Nassella brachychaetoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–45 cm long; 5–6 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades curved; filiform; convolute; 20–35 cm long; 0.5–0.75 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

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

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 10–20 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–8 mm long; scaberulous; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; curved; 0.5 mm long; pilose; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 3.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose; puberulous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with an annular corona and surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 12–14 mm long overall; with twisted column; persistent. Middle segment of lemma awn 2 mm long. Column of lemma awn 5 mm long; puberulous. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; 0 -veined; without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Spegazzini 1997.

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