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 brasiliensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent, or short. Culms 44–135 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 1–1.5 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades 17–50 cm long; 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 18–50 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 11–14.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1–2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–14.5 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; 1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 7–8.5 mm long; coriaceous; yellow; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose; pilose; hairy all along. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs white. 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; 50–82 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous. Column of lemma awn pubescent. Palea 0.7–1.5 mm long; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 3.5–4 mm long; yellow; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Stipeae. H.L-W 1996.

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