Nassella parodii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–45 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.5 mm long on basal shoots. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 5–18 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; lanceolate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–20 mm long; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 22–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 4–4.5 mm long; 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; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 22–25 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 11–14 mm long; coriaceous; light brown, or red; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose; rough above. 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 geniculate; 50–72 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 20–25 mm long; puberulous. Palea 1–1.2 mm long; 0 -veined; without keels. Palea apex ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 2 mm long. Anthers 3; 5–5.5 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 5–6 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Matthei 1995.

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