Rytidosperma monticola (Vickery) Connor
& Edgar. New Zealand J. Bot. 17: 332 (1979).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Danthonioideae. Tribe
Danthonieae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Danthonia
monticola Vickery, Contr. New South Wales Natl. Herb. 1(5): 299
(1950).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Vickery s.n., 2 Jan 1936, Australia: New
South Wales: Lithgow (NSW-1359; IT: K).
Recent synonyms:
Notodanthonia monticola (Vickery) Veldkamp, Austrodanthonia monticola
(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 (144).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (144).
Derivation: L. mons,
mountain; -cola, dweller. Growing on mountains.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 5–45 cm tall, 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule a
fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute, 7–15 cm long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate or ovate, 1–4 cm long.
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, 7–11 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 9 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 8–11 mm long, membranous,
without keels, 9 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.2–2.6 mm long, without keel, 9 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous.
Lemma apex lobed, awned, 3 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, 6–7 mm
long overall, with a twisted column. Lateral lemma awns present. Lodicules
present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.2–1.4 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: New South Wales, Victoria.
New South Wales:
South Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands,
Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes, South-Western Plains. Victoria:
East Gippsland, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Midlands.
Notes. R.
monticolum could be confused with several species: a) from R. tenuius
it is distinct by the formation of distinct little tussocks; b) from R.
setaceum it differs by the setae being shorter than the lemma lobes, and
from c) R. geniculatum it differs by the lemma awn being longer than the
lemma lobe setae. It is most readily characterised by the caespitose habit, the
fine leaves, and the small spikelets.
Tablelands
from the Queensland border to Horsham in Victoria, altitude 60–1400 m, common
in heathland, on shallow soils over sandstone, also in grassland on deeper,
heavier soils. Flowers Nov. to Dec.
