Nassella ancoraimensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 30–50 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Culm-nodes brown. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 5–15 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–8.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.8–1.2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–8.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; 4.2–5 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 15–20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea lanceolate; 1.6–2 mm long; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long. Anthers 1; 1 mm long; retained within floret. Staminodes present.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong, or obovoid; 3–3.5 mm long. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. (Rojas 2004.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.