Nassella trachyphylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms slender; 20–28 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades erect; filiform; involute; 10–20 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 2–3 cm long; 0.3–0.5 cm wide; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; bearded; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; subterete; gibbous; 2–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth; glabrous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; bigeniculate; 8.5–18 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0 -veined; without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Gr Bolivia 1997.

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