Deyeuxia crassiuscula Vickery. Contr. New South Wales Natl. Herb. 1: 59 (1940).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or Replacement Name: Agrostis nivalis F. Muell., Trans. Vict. Inst. 43 (1855).
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Australia, Mt. Buller: Mueller (K holo).
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 (201), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (202).
Illustrations: [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (201), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (205, Fig.28).
Habit. Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, stature robust to moderate, 15–30 cm tall, 3–7 -noded. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 1–2 mm long, membranous, abaxially scaberulous or abaxially hairy, lacerate, truncate. Leaf-blades linear, flat or involute, 3–10 cm long, 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth or scabrous, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear or lanceolate or oblong or ovate, 2.5–10 cm long, 0.7–1.2 cm wide.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), with a barren rachilla extension, lanceolate, laterally compressed, 3–4 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex muticous or mucronate.
Florets. Fertile lemma 4 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, 0.5–6 mm long overall, without a column. Palea apex dentate. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: New South Wales, Victoria.
New South Wales: Southern Tablelands. Victoria: Snowfields.
Notes. Endemic. S from the Brindabella Ra. In rocky, damp areas at high altitude above tree-line. Flowers Dec.-Mar.
