Nassella filifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; slender; 30–80 cm long; 0.5–0.9 mm diam. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades straight, or curved; filiform; convolute; 15–30 cm long; 0.3–0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle deflexed.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 10–20 cm long; 1–2 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 25–35 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea 0 -veined; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. WDC 2012.

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