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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 erianthum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–70 cm long; 3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 10–25 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 4–15 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate, or ovate; 2–7 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches pubescent, or pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 11–16 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; 11–16 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 11–13 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 11–16 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 11–13 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 10–12 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface with 2 transverse rows of hair tufts. Lemma hairs 6–7 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.66 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 13–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 6 mm long. Palea obovate. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Palea surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy on flanks. Palea apex emarginate, or obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long; yellow, or orange.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.

NOTES Arundineae. Vickery 1993.

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