Nassella curtiseta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 24–65 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–3.5 mm long; truncate, or obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades 1.3–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; grooved adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 6–24 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 15–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 3–5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 15–30 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–30 mm long; hyaline; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8.5–14 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; pubescent. Lemma hairs tawny. Lemma apex acute; surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 50–105 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 1 mm long; 2 -veined; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, and north-central USA.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl N Amer 2007.

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