Rytidosperma acerosum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–70 cm long; 4 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous, or hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 3–8 cm long. Panicle branches pubescent, or pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 15–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1–1.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 15–25 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–25 mm long; 2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–8.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface with 2 transverse rows of hair tufts. Lemma hairs 3–4 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 3–5 mm long; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 13–18 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 6 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 7 mm long. Palea linear, or oblong; 3 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex emarginate, or obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Vickery 1993.

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