Nassella ayacuchensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 45–55 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 9–18 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 20–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 4.5–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 1.9–2.1 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 1–1.5 mm long. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 17–20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Gr Peru 1995.

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