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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Nassella formicarum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 40–80 cm long; 2 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8–1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–35 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; equilateral, or nodding; 10–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 9–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 0.7–2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–11 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; hyaline; purple; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–11 mm long; 1.4–1.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 5.5–7.8 mm long; coriaceous; yellow; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma surface papillose; glabrous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona and surmounted by a ring of hairs (on membrane); with this appendage 1.2–2 mm long (plus ciliolae); awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; constricted at base (of corona); 25–40 mm long overall; with 15–25 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 3–5 mm long; puberulous. Palea 1–1.7 mm long; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2.3–2.8 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2.5–2.8 mm long; dark brown. Hilum linear; 0.66 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Torres 1994.

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