Nassella gibba

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 33 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 10–20 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

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

Panicle contracted; linear; 7 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume ovate; 4.5 mm long; 2–2.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex cuspidate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 2 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; shiny; keeled; lightly keeled. Lemma surface rugulose; pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; flexuous; 16 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea membranous; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Phil 2001.

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