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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 tenuis
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface to pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8–2 mm long; obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 3–10 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; ciliate.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; linear, or elliptic, or oblong; 10–30 cm long; bearing few spikelets.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 9–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 2–2.9 mm long; pubescent; pungent.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–18 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of upper glume; hyaline; mid-green, or purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy on veins. Lower glume margins eciliate, or ciliate. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–18 mm long; 2–2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; mid-green, or purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy on veins. Upper glume margins eciliate, or ciliate. Upper glume apex attenuate.
FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 6–7.5 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma surface papillose; rough generally, or above; glabrous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona and surmounted by a ring of hairs (on membrane); with this appendage 0.2–0.3 mm long (plus ciliolae); awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous, or geniculate; simple at base; 70–120 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn puberulous. Palea 0.7–1 mm long; 0 -veined; without keels.
FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2.5–3 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; 3.5–3.8 mm long; dark brown. Hilum linear; 0.75 length of caryopsis.
DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.
NOTES Stipeae. Torres 1994.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
