Nassella juncea

HABIT Perennial. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 70–100 cm long; 2 mm diam. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths tight; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades convolute; 4–8 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle open, or contracted; linear to ovate; 3–5 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–2.9 mm long; 1.1–1.3 mm wide; coriaceous; pallid, or yellow, or light brown; shiny; keeled; lightly keeled. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; geniculate; 12–15 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column; deciduous. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea membranous; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Parodi 1996.

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