Rytidosperma longifolium

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–75 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curled; filiform; involute; 15–35 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 10–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.9 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–11 mm long; 3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; with a transverse fringe of hair. Lemma hairs 4 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.2 of lemma length; attenuate; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 9–11 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 6 mm long; shorter than principal. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Tothill.

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