Nassella meyeniana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; nodding; 10–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–10 cm long; naked below, or bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; subterete; 3.5–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous, or pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.2–0.3 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1.8–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 0.6–0.8 mm wide; coriaceous; pallid, or grey; shiny; keeled; lightly keeled. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; flexuous; 10–15 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea membranous; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Parodi.

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