Nassella soukupii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 50–70 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 8–18 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; rough adaxially.

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

Panicle open; elliptic; 16–25 cm long; 1.5–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 3–7 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 4–4.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.4 mm long; pilose; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–4.8 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 2.5–3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona and surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 0.3 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate, or bigeniculate; 13–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Gr Peru 1995.

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