Nassella charruana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8–2 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or convolute; 5–20 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 6–30 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 16–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2–2.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 16–20 mm long; 1.3 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12–15 mm long; 1.4–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8–10.5 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona; with this appendage 5–6 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 50–80 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea elliptic; 0.2–0.3 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; oblanceolate; membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; 3.5 mm long; dark brown. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia. South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. WDC.

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