Rytidosperma oreoboloides

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Culms 2–10 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; 0.5–3 cm long; 0.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1 fertile spikelets.

Spikelets solitary.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume oblong; 3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface with marginal hair tufts; bearing 4 hair tufts in all. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.5 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed; biconvex; 1.3 mm long. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia and Papuasia.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

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