Hypolaena robusta Meney & Pate

Scientific Description

Rhizomes spreading, glabrous. Basal sheath glabrous, dull, striate. Culms terete, internal structure (at base of culm) solid, glabrous, striate, not marbled, not fasciculate. Culm 230-570 mm long. Sheaths (including blade) spreading, dull, striate, glabrous, margins not translucent. Apex recurved, glabrous. Dioecious (with separate male and female plants). Male and female inflorescences distinctly dissimilar, posture (male inflorescences only) Distinctly drooping, Culms unbranched below the inflorescence. Male spikelet 7-10.5 mm long. Subtending bract glabrous, Outer bract 3-3.4 mm long, margins thin and translucent, Apex acute. Perianth glabrous. 2.8-3 mm long. Inner bract glabrous, margins thin and translucent, Apex acute or obtuse. Inner bract 4-5 mm long. Filament 0-0.1 mm long. Anther 1-1.5 mm long. Female spikelet 11-13 mm long. Subtending bract glabrous, margins thin and translucent, Apex acuminate to attenuate. Outer bract 8-9.5 mm long. Perianth glabrous. 4.5-6.5 mm long. Inner bracts 5.5-10 mm long, glabrous, margins firm and opaque, Apex acuminate to attenuate. Style one, arising centrally from the ovary apex. 8-13 mm long. Fruit indehiscent (nut). Flowering Time September or October. Botanical Province South-West, IBRA Bioregions Geraldton Sandplain, Swan Coastal Plain or Jarrah Forest. Conservation Code PriorityFour (P4).