Nassella argentinensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–65 cm long; 0.7–1 mm diam.; 3–5 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; erose. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 3–3.5 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation with 8–10 secondary veins.

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

Panicle open; linear; secund; 10–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 12–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 12–13 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; pallid, or purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–11.5 mm long; membranous; pallid, or purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or ciliolate. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona and surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 0.5–1 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 55–70 mm long overall; with twisted column; persistent. Middle segment of lemma awn 10 mm long. Column of lemma awn 30 mm long; hispidulous. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; 0 -veined; without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Spegazzini 1997.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Corona turbinate.

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