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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Rytidosperma pulchrum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 15–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; conduplicate; 5–10 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; 2–5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3(–5) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5–0.8 mm long. Floret callus evident; 0.2–0.4 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 6–7.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 15–17 mm long; 1.4–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.8–5.4 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5(–7) -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; with 2 transverse rows of hair tufts. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 1.8–2.8 mm long; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned, or 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 3–4.5 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 0.5–1 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes. Palea 3–3.8 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy on flanks. 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; 1.2–1.4 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.