Rytidosperma clavatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 45–90 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded; 5 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.1–0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 15–30 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle smooth, or scaberulous above.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–5.5(–9.5) cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous; bearing a few hairs; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 10–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.3–0.4 mm long. Floret callus evident; 0.6–1.2 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–13.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; (5–)7–9(–11) -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–13.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7(–9) -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8.5–16 mm long; chartaceous; shiny; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; with a transverse row of hair tufts and with marginal hair tufts (above, with or without additional dorsal tufts). Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 6–13 mm long; incised 0.6–0.8 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 9–14 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2.5–3 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes. Palea 3.5–5.5 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 0.4–2.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.9–2.3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Arundineae. Connor & Edgar 1993.

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