Nassella lachnophylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally hispid. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 3–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; linear, or elliptic; 7–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–30 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5–1.5 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–12 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or obovate; subterete; gibbous; 4–6.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose; pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 40–60 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous. Column of lemma awn 10–15 mm long; hispidulous. Palea 1–1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of lemma; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform, or obovoid; 3 mm long. Hilum linear; 0.75 length of caryopsis.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes present; in lower sheaths.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Matthei 1995.

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