Rytidosperma bonthainicum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 12–50 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; 3–15 cm long; 0.4–0.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–13 fertile spikelets. Peduncle glabrous.

Panicle contracted; 2–6 cm long. Panicle axis pilose. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets laterally compressed; 6.5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet (tips of upper lemma and awns protuding). Lower glume 6–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume. Lower glume surface glabrous. Upper glume 6–9 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 0.9 length of spikelet. Upper glume surface glabrous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 5–6.5 mm long. Lemma surface with marginal hair tufts; bearing 4 hair tufts in all. Lemma hairs 1.25–1.5 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 2–3 mm long; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 7–10 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1.5–3.5 mm long. Palea surface glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 1–1.5 mm long; eventually exserted.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Arundineae. Veldkamp 2000.

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