Rytidosperma lepidopodum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 7–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above.

Panicle open; linear, or ovate; 5–8 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; 15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–14 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–14 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6–9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose; with a transverse row of hair tufts. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 3–5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned, or 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 10–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 1–2 mm long. Palea lanceolate, or oblong; 5–8 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Walsh 1997.

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