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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 setifolium
HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 25–50 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; filiform; involute; 10–35 cm long; 1 mm wide; stiff.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; 3–6 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches smooth.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (3–)4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; (5.5–)7–11(–20) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.6–1 mm long. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–11 mm long; 1.3–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; (3–)5(–7) -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5.5–7.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface with 2 transverse rows of hair tufts. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 3–4 mm long; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 8–12 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 1–2 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes. Palea 3–5 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy on flanks; hairy below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 1.5–3 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.1–1.5 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.