Rytidosperma erianthum
| Hill wallaby grass | |
|---|---|
| |
| Flowerhead | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Rytidosperma |
| Species: | R. erianthum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Rytidosperma erianthum | |
| Synonyms | |
Rytidosperma erianthum, the hill wallaby grass, is a perennial species of grass found in south eastern Australia. Usually found in drier areas in a variety of habitats. The habit is somewhat variable, erect and densely tufted. The grass may grow up to 0.7 m (2 ft 4 in) tall.
Description[edit]
Rytidosperma erianthum is an erect, densely tufted perennial up to 0.7 m (2 ft 4 in) high.[1]
Stem bearing the inflorescence, or culm, is smooth, 3-noded. Leaves generally with soft hairs with a small wart-like outgrowth (tubercle) at the base of hairs.[2] Leaf blade fine, rolled in, or rarely almost flat, to 25 cm (9.8 in) long and usually less than 1 mm (0.039 in) wide.
Compound inflorescence (panicle) which is ovate in shape, compact or loose, 2 cm (0.79 in) to 7 cm (2.8 in) long.[2] Inflorescence has 4 to 15 spikelets, which are each flower together with lemma and palea that enclose it.[1] Spikelets green-tinged with purple and are 4–8-flowered, 11 mm (0.43 in) to 18 mm (0.71 in) long.[3] Glumes (bracts at the base of the grass spikelet) subequal, tapering gradually to a point, 11 mm (0.43 in) to 19 mm (0.75 in) long. Lemma rather broad, 3 mm (0.12 in) to 4 mm (0.16 in) long, with 2 rows of hairs, the lower about 1 mm (0.039 in) above the hardened extension from the base of a floret (callus) tuft, and virtually reaching the dense upper ring, the hairs of which normally exceed the twisted part of the central awn. Lateral lobes erect or slightly spreading, 7 mm (0.28 in) to 11 mm (0.43 in) long, abruptly tapering into fine hairs which are about as long as or longer than the flat part. Central awn exceeding lateral lobes by 3 mm (0.12 in) to 8 mm (0.31 in). Palea obovate in shape, the margin with conspicuous hairs, exceeding sinus by about 1 mm (0.039 in). Flowers occur from September to December.
Taxonomy[edit]
Rytidosperma erianthum was first described by the botanist John Lindley as Danthonia eriantha in 1838. The holotype was collected by Major Mitchell, during his expedition of 1836 in present-day southern New South Wales. Based on expedition maps, the collection likely occurred near The Rock.[4] Major Mitchell described the species as "a new kind of grass with large seeds".[5]
In 1841, French botanists Brongniart and Guillemin mistakenly named Danthonia eriantha as Danthonia periantha (orthographical variant).[6] New Zealand botanists Connor and Edgar placed Danthonia eriantha into the genus Rytidosperma as Rytidosperma erianthum in 1979.[7] Further changes were put forward by botanists including, Veldkamp in 1980 proposing a new combination Notodanthonia eriantha,[8] and in 1997 Linder proposing the new combination Austrodanthonia eriantha.[9] However, Rytidosperma erianthum is the current accepted name.
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Rytidosperma erianthum". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ a b "VicFlora - Rytidosperma erianthum". Flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ Linder, H. P. (2020). "Austrodanthonia eriantha". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Mitchell, Thomas; Davies, Benjamin Rees; Dixon, Robert; Mitchell, Thomas; T. & W. Boone (Firm) (1838). The south eastern portion of Australia showing the routes of the three expeditions and the surveyed territory (Map). London: T. & W. Boone, 29 New Bond Street, 18. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ Mitchell, Thomas Livingstone (1839). Three expeditions into the interior of eastern Australia; with descriptions of the recently explored region of Australia Felix, and of the present colony of New South Wales (2 ed.). London: T. & W. Boone, 1839. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.33129. LCCN 20003104.
- ^ Brongniart, Adolphe Théodore; Guillemin, Jean Baptiste Antoine (1841). "Liste systématique et phrases caractéristiques de soixante-seize nouvelles plantes de l'intérieur de la Nouvelle Hollande par M. J. LINDLEY". Annales des sciences naturelles Botanique (in French). 2 (15): 56–64.
- ^ Connor, Henry Eamonn; Edgar, Elizabeth (1979). "Rytidosperma Steudel (Notodanthonia Zotov) in New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 17 (3): 311–337. doi:10.1080/0028825X.1979.10426906.
- ^ Veldkamp, Jan Frederik (1980). "Conservation of Notodanthonia Zotov (Gramineae)". Taxon. 29 (2/3): 293–298. doi:10.2307/1220291.
- ^ Linder, Hans Peter (1997). "Nomenclatural corrections in the Rytidosperma complex (Danthonieae, Poaceae)". Telopea. 7 (3): 269–274. doi:10.7751/telopea19971019.