Rytidosperma nudum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 10–30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 2–6 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 6–15 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 2–3 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4–5 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. Lower glume elliptic; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 4–5 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; with marginal hair tufts; bearing 4 hair tufts in all. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; incised 0.05 of lemma length; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight; 0.5–1 mm long overall; without a column. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Arundineae. Cheeseman 1993.

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