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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 merum
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations extravaginal, or intravaginal. Culms 80–140 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.1–0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 10–40 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above.
Panicle contracted; linear; 4–8 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose. Panicle branches scabrous.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous; bearing a few hairs; hairy at tip.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5–0.6 mm long. Floret callus evident; 0.6–1 mm long; pubescent.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5(–7) -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–15 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5(–7) -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5.5–11.5 mm long; chartaceous; shiny; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; with marginal hair tufts; bearing 2 hair tufts in all, or 4 hair tufts in all. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 3–7.5 mm long; incised 0.66 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 6.5–14 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2.5–3.5 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes. Palea 2.5–5 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 0.3–1.5 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.7–2.5 mm long.
DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.
NOTES Arundineae. Connor & Edgar 1993.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
