Chionochloa frigida (Vickery) Conert. Senckenbergiana biol. 56:154 (1975).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Danthonioideae. Tribe
Danthonieae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Danthonia
frigida Vickery, Contr. New South Wales Natl. Herb. 1(5): 298
(1950).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia, Vickery s.n. (HT: NSW-1097).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (182).
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 3,
I-K), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New
South Wales, 4th edn (182).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 60–120 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly
basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.5–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute, 30–60
cm long, 4–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, 8–12 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets, comprising 4–8 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex,
oblong, laterally compressed, 9–17 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate,
membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 8–15 mm long,
membranous, without keels, 3–5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 5.5–12 mm long, without keel, 7 -nerved. Lemma surface
indumented. Lemma apex lobed, awned, 3 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a
sinus, 8–15 mm long overall, with a straight or slightly twisted column.
Lateral lemma awns present. Lodicules present. Grain 3.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: New South Wales.
New South Wales:
Southern Tablelands.
Notes.
Mt Kosciusko endemic, altitude 1700–2000 m, alpine and subalpine meadows, bogs,
rocky slopes and heathlands, forming distinctive communities, flowering only
rarely. Flowers Dec. to Feb.
