Nassella chaparensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–80 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths subequal to internodes; antrorsely scabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 7–35 cm long; 1.2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or elliptic; 10–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3.3–3.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.2 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.2–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.3–3.8 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; 2–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose; pubescent; hairy on veins. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 10–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea lanceolate; 1 mm long; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long. Anthers 1; 0.5 mm long; retained within floret. Staminodes present.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong, or obovoid; laterally compressed; 1.6–2 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. (Rojas 2004.

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