GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Nassella spegazzinii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 75–150 cm long; 1–3 mm diam.; 4–5 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 15–30 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 20–25 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; nodding; 30–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches 5–10 cm long. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 20–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 3.5–4.5 mm long; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 20–40 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 17–39 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8.5–9 mm long; coriaceous; yellow; dull, or shiny; without keel. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 95–130 mm long overall; with 60–70 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 50–60 mm long. Palea 4–4.5 mm long; hyaline; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 6–6.5 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Parodi 1006.

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