Nassella asplundii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long; 2 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–6 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 8–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 2–5 cm long. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches capillary; smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; subterete; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; 2.5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; lightly keeled. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; bigeniculate; 15 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous. Column of lemma awn ciliate. Palea membranous; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Hitchcock 1993.

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