Rytidosperma australe

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 10–45 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–15 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–8 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2–5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches capillary; pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.4–3.3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.4–3.3 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; without hair tufts. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Principal lemma awn from a sinus. Palea keels smooth; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

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