Chilean Needlegrass

Description

Nassella chilensis, Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms 30-100 cm long; 1 mm diam.; 4-12 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades spreading; flat, or convolute; 3-10 cm long; 1-1.5 mm wide., Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; subterete; 3-4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3-4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.2-0.3 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 3-4.5 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.2-0.3 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 1.6-2.2 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; keeled; lightly keeled. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; bigeniculate; 7-10 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column; deciduous. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; membranous; 0 -veined; without keels. Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 0.3-0.4 mm long.