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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 nigricans
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 25–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or involute; 10–20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth, or scaberulous.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above.
Panicle contracted; 2–3.5(–8.5) cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6.5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.8–1.2 mm long. Floret callus evident; 0.2–0.3 mm long; pubescent.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6.5–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6.5–9 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4.2–6 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; with 2 transverse rows of hair tufts, or with a transverse row of hair tufts and with marginal hair tufts (below). Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 2.7–3.5 mm long; incised 0.66 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned, or 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 6–8.5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 1–1.5 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes. Palea 2.5–3 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 0.5–1.1 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.1–1.3 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.
