Rytidosperma dendeniwae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 9–16 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; 5.5–11 cm long; 0.6–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 4–5(–7) fertile spikelets. Peduncle pilose above.

Panicle contracted; 1.5–2.5 cm long. Panicle axis pilose. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets laterally compressed; 7–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets (then only the awns protuding). Lower glume 6–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume. Lower glume surface glabrous. Upper glume 6–8 mm long; 0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 0.9–1 length of spikelet. Upper glume surface glabrous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 5–5.5 mm long. Lemma surface with marginal hair tufts; bearing 6 hair tufts in all. Lemma hairs 1–1.5 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 0–2.5 mm long; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 5.25–7 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns 1–1.25 mm long. Palea surface pilose; hairy on margins (in two tufts). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 0.75–1 mm long; eventually exserted.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Arundineae. Veldkamp 2000.

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