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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Rytidosperma vickeryae
HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Stolons present. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–25 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 30–60 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acute.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–12 fertile spikelets.
Panicle open; ovate; 2–5 cm long; 3–5 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches glabrous; glabrous in axils.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 5.5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.4–0.5 mm long; bearded. Floret callus hairs 0.33 length of lemma.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.8–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; mid-green and purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.8–5 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; mid-green and purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4 mm long; chartaceous; shiny; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins transversely connected at apex. Lemma surface with marginal hair tufts; bearing 2–4 hair tufts in all. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 1.5–1.6 mm long; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight; 2.5–3.2 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea elliptic, or obovate; 3.2–3.4 mm long. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; veined; glabrous. Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; plano-convex; 1.2–1.5 mm long; light brown.
DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.
NOTES Arundineae. Gray & Linder 2001.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
