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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Rytidosperma gracile
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons absent, or present. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 25–60 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–25 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above.
Panicle open; 5–10 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4(–6) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 9–14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.6–1 mm long. Floret callus evident; 0.3–0.5 mm long; pubescent.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–12 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4–7.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; with 2 transverse rows of hair tufts. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 2.5–4.5 mm long; incised 0.66 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 4.5–9 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 0.5–1.2 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes. Palea 2.5–4 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back and on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 0.5–1.3 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 0.9–1.4 mm long.
DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.
NOTES Arundineae. Connor & Edgar 1993.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
