Nassella paramilloensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long; 1–1.5 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 5–20 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation with 5–11 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

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

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–12 cm long; 0.5–0.7 cm wide.

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 evident; 0.5–1 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7.5–10 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 0.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 18–24 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 5–6 mm long; pubescent. Palea 0.25 length of lemma; 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.