Rytidosperma lechleri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 5–20 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.4–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 0.5–6.5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 8–10 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 4 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–1.5 mm long. Floret callus evident; pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5.5–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; with 2 transverse rows of hair tufts. Lemma hairs 2–2.5 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 3–4.5 mm long; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 5–6.5 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1.5 mm long. Palea 2.5–3.5 mm long. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back and on flanks. Palea apex truncate, or obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 0.4–0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.5 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Arundineae. Fl Pat 1993.

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