Nassella leptocoronata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pilose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 40–80 cm long; 3 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs pubescent; 1 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 7–25 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear; 8–16 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 19–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 3–3.5 mm long; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 19–30 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 16–23 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 11–16.2 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; ciliate; hairy at base. Lemma apex with a membranous corona; with this appendage 1.5–2.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 65–135 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 2–2.5 mm long; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1–2 mm long. Anthers 3; 3.4–6.5 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 5.5–8 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Rosengurtt 1995.

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