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 fabrisii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 40–110 cm long. Culm-internodes 35–65 cm long; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate, or obtuse. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; flat, or convolute; 0.8–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

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

Panicle open; pyramidal; equilateral, or nodding; 10–15 cm long. Panicle axis glabrous. Panicle branches hispidulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 14–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; straight; 2.5–3.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 14–16 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose; hairy on veins. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–16 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete (tetragonal); 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma surface scaberulous; puberulous; hairy above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona and surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 0.7–1 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 45–60 mm long overall; with 18–28 mm long limb; with twisted column; persistent. Column of lemma awn 17–20 mm long; pubescent. Palea 1.5–2 mm long; 0.2 length of lemma; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2, or 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 3.5 mm long. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Torres 1997.

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