Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Rytidosperma exiguum (Kirk) H.P.Linder, Telopea 6: 614 (1996)
Synonymy:
  • Triodia exigua Kirk, Trans. New Zealand Inst. 14: 378 (1882)
  • Sieglingia exigua (Kirk) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2, 789 (1891)
  • Danthonia exigua (Kirk) Zotov, Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 73: 234 (1943)
  • Pyrrhanthera exigua (Kirk) Zotov, New Zealand J. Bot. 1: 126 (1963)
 Description

Low-growing tufts of slender shoots usually spaced singly along a comparatively stout, far-creeping, woody rhizome; leaves setaceous, curved outwards, bright green becoming yellow, apparently glabrous except at sheath apex, much < mature culms; branching intravaginal. Leaf-sheath tightly appressed to shoot, mostly below ground-level, light brown to whitish, pinkish-tinged at first, entirely glabrous, shining, soft, ± transparent, ribs more distinct in older sheaths, apical tuft and collar hairs to 1 mm. Ligule c. 0.1 mm. Leaf-blade to 6 cm, folded, with smooth incurved margins, glabrous, tip obtuse, with a few minute prickle-teeth. Culm 2–7–(8.5) cm, erect, filiform, internode glabrous. Inflorescence a reduced panicle, to 1.5 cm, of 1–2–(4) brownish green, ovoid, 2–3–(6)-flowered spikelets c. 6 mm; pedicels minutely hairy; florets ☿; disarticulating above glumes and between florets. Glumes ± equal, (3.5)–5–6.5–(9.5) mm, ≈ florets, stiffly concave, ovate, green at centre with purple lateral band and broad light brown margins, lower 7-nerved, upper 5-nerved, glabrous apart from minute prickle-teeth on midrib near apex and finely ciliate margins. Lemma (2.5)–3.5–4–(5) mm, (7)–9-nerved, light green, purple-tinged above, hard and shining; hairs short and scattered, longer on margins and in 2 bands ± centrally, scarious towards tip with rather dense minute prickle-teeth; apex tridentate with central scabrid mucro 0.2–0.5–(0.8) mm between shorter lobes. Palea < lemma, (2.5)–3–3.5–(4.5) mm, keel and apex conspicuously densely ciliate, several longer hairs on margin. Callus 0.3–0.5 mm, glabrous. Rachilla glabrous. Lodicules 2, ± truncate, apically long hairy. Stamens 3, anthers (0.8)–1.3–1.8 mm, scarlet or cream. Gynoecium: ovary 0.5 mm; stigma-styles 2, c. 2 mm. Fruit an achene, c. 1.5 × 0.8–1 mm; embryo ⅓ to ½ length achene; hilum basal, ⅓ length achene.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing). as Pyrrhanthera exigua (Kirk) Zotov]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Declining]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Data Deficient]
Edgar, E.; Connor, H.E. 2010: Flora of New Zealand Volume V Grasses. Edition 2. Manaaki Whenua Press. [as Pyrrhanthera exigua (Kirk) Zotov]
Kirk, T. 1882: On the New Zealand Olives. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 14: 375–378.
Kuntze, C.E.O. 1891: Revisio Generum Plantarum. Vol. 2. Arthur Felix, Leipzig.
Linder, H.P.; Baeza, M.; Barker, N.P.; Galley, C.; Humphreys, A.M.; Lloyd, K.M.; Orlovich, D.A.; Pirie, M.D.; Simon, B.K.; Walsh, N.; Verboom, G.A. 2010: A generic classification of the Danthonioideae (Poaceae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 97: 306–364.
Linder, H.P.; Verboom, G. A. 1996: Generic limits in the Rytidosperma (Danthonieae, Poaceae) complex. Telopea 6: 597–627.
Zotov, V.D. 1943: Certain Changes in the Nomenclature of New Zealand Species of Gramineae. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 73: 233–238.
Zotov, V.D. 1963: Synopsis of the grass subfamily Arundinoideae in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 1: 78–136.