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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 megapotamia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 50–150 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long; 6–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; equilateral, or nodding; 30–40 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 1–2 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; mid-green to purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; mid-green, or purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 4–5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose; pubescent; hairy all along; hairy on veins. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona; with this appendage 0.5–0.6 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 30–50 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea 0.8–1 mm long; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2–2.8 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2.7–3 mm long; dark brown. Hilum linear; 0.66 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia. South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Torres 1994.

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