Rytidosperma nudiflorum (P.F. Morris) H.E. Connor & E.Edgar. New Zealand J.
Bot. 17: 332 (1979).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Danthonioideae. Tribe Danthonieae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Danthonia
nudiflora P. Morris, Victoria Naturalist 52: 111, f. (1935).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: v. Mueller s.n., Australia (K).
Recent synonyms:
Notodanthonia nudiflora, Danthonia nudiflora.
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 (362).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (362).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes absent or present, short. Culms erect, 10–30 cm tall, 2
-noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a
fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate, involute, 2–10 cm long, 1 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear or lanceolate, 3–7 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (5–7), comprising 5–7 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, cuneate, laterally compressed, 8–13 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 5 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 8–13 mm long, membranous,
without keels, 5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2–5.5 mm long, without keel, 9 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex lobed, awned, 3 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, 6.2–8.3
mm long overall, with a straight or slightly twisted column or with a twisted
column. Lateral lemma awns present. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.8–2
mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.
New South Wales:
Northern Tablelands, Southern Tablelands. Victoria: Snowfields. Tasmania:
West Coast, Central Highlands, Ben Lomond.
Notes. Near R.
nivicola by the round, glabrous leaves, the frequent formation of cushion
habit, and four lateral lemma tufts, but differs by the awns with a twisted
base, well developed lateral setae and longer, acute glumes.
Altitude
800–1900 m, damp alpine grassland, in Tas. restricted to the subalpine belt, in
seepages or damp grassland; dominant species of sod tussock grassland, tall
alpine herbfields and fens. Flowers Jan. to March.
