Rytidosperma buchananii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 7–30 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–10 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 4–12 fertile spikelets.

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

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; with marginal hair tufts; bearing 4 hair tufts in all. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.25 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight, or curved; 4–6 mm long overall; without a column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Arundineae. Cheeseman 1993.

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