Derivation
Nassella (Trin.) Desv., in C.Gay, Fl. Chil. 6: 263 (1854); from the Latin diminutive of nassa (a narrow-necked wicker basket), referring to the shape of the floret of some South American species.

charruana- from the Latin -ana indicating connection. In honour of the Charrúas, a group of Indian tribes in Uraguay.

Published in
Taxon 39: 609 (1990).

Common synonyms
Stipa charruana Arechav.

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Rhizomes short. Culms erect, 25–100 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.8–2 mm long, obtuse. Leaf-blades flat or conduplicate or convolute, 5–20 cm long, 0.5–2 mm wide, rigid. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle, exserted or embraced at base by subtending leaf. Panicle open or contracted, oblong, effuse, 6–30 cm long.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, without rhachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 16–20 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated, 2–2.5 mm long, pubescent, pungent.

Glumes
Glumes persistent, similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear, 14–20 mm long, 130% length of upper glume, hyaline, 3-nerved. Lower glume apex acuminate or attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate, 12–17 mm long, 140–150% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, hyaline, 3-nerved. Upper glume apex acuminate or attenuate.

Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate, subterete, 8–10.5 mm long, coriaceous, dark brown, 5-nerved. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins convolute, covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a membranous corona, with this appendage 5–6 mm long,1-awned. Median (principal) awn bigeniculate, 45–80 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 20–25 mm long, scabrous, with 0.15 mm long hairs. Palea elliptic, 20–30% of length of lemma, hyaline, 2-nerved, without keels. Lodicules 2, oblanceolate, membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous. Grain with adherent pericarp, linear, 3.5 mm long, dark brown. Hilum linear.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Victoria.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Stipeae

Notes
Introduced. This species has only recently been found to occur in Australia.