The Violet Spike of the Apennine Grasslands

Habit: A perennial herb with a densely tufted habit. Leaves: Thin, rigid, sub-setaceous and glaucous. The blade is convolute, with a very small diameter. In cross-section, the leaf shows a sub-pentagonal outline reinforced by robust strands of sclerenchyma that give it mechanical rigidity. Flowers: Arranged in an erect panicle bearing spikelets of a dark grey-violet colour. Spikelets 7-8 mm long, with an ovary generally lacking hairs. The lemma is topped by a remarkably long awn, a key trait for distinguishing the subspecies. Fruits: Caryopsis, the single-seeded dry fruit typical of grasses. Flowering: June-July.

Chorological type: Italian endemic. Distribution: A rare and localized entity occurring mainly along the Central and Southern Apennines. Habitat: A species typical of high-altitude grasslands and alpine pastures on calcareous and dolomitic substrates, between 1500 and 2600 m above sea level.

Generic name (Festuca): From the Latin festuca, originally meaning a stalk, a straw or the stem of a herbaceous plant. Specific name (violacea): Refers to the violet-brown colour of the spikelets, which gives the inflorescence a distinctive tone among mountain grasses. Subspecific name (italica): Indicates its geographic belonging and emphasizes its status as an Italian endemic.