Nassella gigantea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 70–100 cm long; 2–3 mm diam. Lateral branches ample. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 4–8 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 3–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; subterete; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; asymmetrical; laterally compressed; gibbous; 1.8–2.5 mm long; 1.2–1.4 mm wide; coriaceous; yellow, or grey; keeled; lightly keeled. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; geniculate; 9–15 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column; deciduous. Palea membranous; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. = Nassella exserta. Parodi.

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