Nassella neesiana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface to pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 2–5.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous to pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 5–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 4 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–22 mm long; 1.4–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 7–11 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose; rough above; pilose; hairy at base. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona and surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 1 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 40–50 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia and south. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Cat 1997.

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