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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Rytidosperma clelandii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms 75 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 15–30 cm long; 0.75–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 8–13 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 16–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 16–20 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 9 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 16–20 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; with marginal hair tufts; bearing 2 hair tufts in all. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 4 mm long; incised 0.5 of lemma length; acuminate; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 16 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 4 mm long. Palea oblanceolate; 8 mm long. Palea keels 1.5 mm apart; ciliate. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back; hairy below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 4.5 mm long; orange, or red.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Vickery 1993.

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