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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 ligularis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 30–75 cm long; 1.75 mm diam.; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth. Culm-nodes swollen; pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–40 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 9–17 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pilose; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–15 mm long; pubescent; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 18–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 3.75–4 mm long; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 18–20 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliolate. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 16–18 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 11–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma surface papillose; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona; with this appendage 0.5–0.7 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 9–10 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn pubescent. Palea 1–1.25 mm long; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Spegazzini 1995.

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