Rytidosperma pallidum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–120 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–6 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 20–40 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 8–35 cm long. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 8–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–2 mm long. Floret callus evident; 0.5–1 mm long; pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–17 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; much thinner on margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–17 mm long; 1.1–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; with membranous margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–11 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 11 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; without hair tufts. Lemma hairs 1–2 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5–0.7 of lemma length; setaceously attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 7–11(–16) mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 4 mm long. Palea linear; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back; hairy below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Vickery.

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