Nassella carettei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths 4–7 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–3 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 20–40 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 8–15 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 7 -nate; whorled at most nodes; 6–7 cm long. Panicle axis 5–7 noded.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 7–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5–1 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 4–5 mm long; 0.75 mm wide; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 30–50 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long; purple. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Haumann 1997.

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