Nassella depauperata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 20–40 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 3–4 cm long; glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades 2–7(–9) cm long. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 7–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 4–5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle axis with lower internodes 3–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels. Upper glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 13 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn pubescent.

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

NOTES Stipeae. Pilger 2004.

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