Nassella manrakica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths grey; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 46–54 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–3 mm long; 0.7–1 mm long on basal shoots; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or conduplicate; 0.2–0.3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially; pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–8 fertile spikelets; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath.

Panicle contracted; nodding; 10–13 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 33–49 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 3 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 33–49 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 33–49 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 9–9.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 163–175 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb hirsute; with 4–5.5 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 37–40 mm long; scabrous. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 6–6.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Kotuchov 2005.

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