Nassella ibarrensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–70 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–12 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 10–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus 0.5 mm long; pilose; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; purple; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; hyaline; purple; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex truncate; surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 1 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate, or bigeniculate; 15–20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. WDC 1997.

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