Rytidosperma alpicolum

Rytidosperma alpicolum (Vickery) Connor
& Edgar. New Zealand J. Bot. 17: 331 (1979).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Danthonioideae. Tribe
Danthonieae.

Basionym and/or
Replacement Name:
 Danthonia
alpicola
Vickery, Contr. New South Wales Natl. Herb. 1: 297 (1950).

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: LT: Mueller s.n., Australia: Victoria: Mt.
Buller (MEL; ILT: K). LT designated by Vickery, Contr. New South Wales Herb.
1: 297 (1950).

Recent synonyms:
Danthonia semiannularis var. alpina Benth., Notodanthonia
alpicola
(Vickery) Veldkamp, Austrodanthonia alpicola (Vickery) H.P.
Linder.

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
(141).

Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (55,
Pl.14 as Danthonia semiannularis), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley
& D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (141).

Derivation: L. alpes,
high mountain; -cola, dweller. Growing on high mountains.

Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 8–35 cm tall, 3–4 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous.
Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades conduplicate or involute, 5–10 cm long,
2–4 mm wide.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate or ovate, 3–4 cm long, 2–2.5
cm wide.

Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (4–6), comprising 4–6 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, cuneate, laterally compressed, 11–17 mm long.

Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 5 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 12–17 mm long, membranous,
without keels, 5 -nerved.

Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.3–3 mm long, without keel, 9 -nerved. Lemma apex lobed, awned,
3 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, 10–17 mm long overall, with a
twisted column. Column 2–3 mm long. Lateral lemma awns present. Lodicules
present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.7–2.2 mm long.

Continental
Distribution
: Australasia.

Australian
Distribution
: New South Wales, Victoria.

New South Wales:
Southern Tablelands. Victoria: East Gippsland, Snowfields.

Notes.
This species, with its thick leaves, large white basal sheaths, and compact
inflorescence, is very distinctive.

Ranging from the A.C.T. through the Australian Alps,
with an outlier on the Furneaux Islands, altitude 1800–2100 m (in Victoria down
to 1600 m), rock crevices, ledges and alpine grassland. Flowers Dec.


AVH 2011

 

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith