Rytidosperma clelandii (Vickery) Connor
& Edgar. New Zealand J. Bot. 17: 332 (1979).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Danthonioideae. Tribe
Danthonieae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Danthonia
clelandii Vickery, Contr. New South Wales Natl. Herb. 1: 297 (1950).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Cleland H262, 30 Oct 1926, Australia:
south Australia: Upper Waterfall Gully (NSW; IT: JBC).
Recent synonyms:
Notodanthonia clelandii, Rytidosperma clelandii, Joycea clelandii (Vickery)
H.P. Linder.
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (301).
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 6,
G-H), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia
(302, fig. 237).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 40–75 cm tall, 3–4 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous.
Leaf-sheaths smooth or scaberulous. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.5 mm long.
Leaf-blades filiform, involute, 15–30 cm long, 0.75–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, 8–13 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (3–6), comprising 3–6 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, cuneate, laterally compressed, 16–25 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, much
thinner on margins, without keels, 5–9 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 16–20
mm long, membranous, without keels, 7 -nerved. Upper glume surface asperulous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 3–9 mm long, without keel, 9 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex lobed, awned, 3 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, 13–18.5
mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 5–7.5 mm long. Lateral lemma
awns present. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.5–2.4 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia.
South Australia:
Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty.
Notes. Similar
in appearance to R. pallidum.
Restricted
to the Mt Lofty region at Adelaide, altitude 200–700 m, common in light shade
in heathy understory under Eucalyptus woodland, on thin, skeletal, stony
soils on steeper slopes. Flowers Nov.
