Rytidosperma fulvum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 30–115 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or lanceolate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 11.8–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 11.8–16 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume elliptic; 11.8–16 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface villous; with 2 transverse rows of hair tufts. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 5 mm long; incised 0.6–0.7 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 7.5–13.5 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1.6–3 mm long. Palea elliptic, or ovate; 4.3–5.5 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 0.9–2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 1.8–2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Fl Australia 2008.

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