Rytidosperma fortunae-hibernae

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths papery. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–38 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 2–3.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 8–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 8.3–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 8–11 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5–8 mm long; chartaceous; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface with 2 transverse rows of hair tufts. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 3–5 mm long; setaceously attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 6–10 mm long overall; with twisted column. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 1.5 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Renvoize 1997.

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