Nassella holwayi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–80 cm long; 4 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 20–40 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5–6 mm long; coriaceous; grey; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 1–1.5 mm long. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 35–45 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous. Middle segment of lemma awn 8 mm long; puberulous. Column of lemma awn 8 mm long; puberulous. Palea 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

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

NOTES Stipeae. Hitchcock 1995.

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