Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Rytidosperma Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 425 (1854)
Synonymy:
  • = Erythranthera Zotov, New Zealand J. Bot. 1: 124 (1963)
  • = Notodanthonia Zotov, New Zealand J. Bot. 1: 104 (1963)
  • = Pyrrhanthera Zotov (1963)
  • = Notodanthonia subsect. Unaredia Zotov (1963)
  • = Joycea H.P.Linder, Telopea 6: 611 (1996)
  • = Thonandia H.P.Linder, Telopea 6: 612 (1996) nom. illeg.
Type Taxon:
Rytidosperma lechleri Steudel
Vernacular Name(s):
Danthonia
 Description

Tufted perennials, short or moderately tall, with intra- or extravaginal branching. Leaf-sheath with apical tuft of hairs sometimes extending dorsally, abaxially ± shining, glabrous or hairy. Ligule a rim of hairs. Leaf-blade persistent or disarticulating at ligule, flat or inrolled, ± flaccid, or stiff, abaxially glabrous or hairy, adaxially minutely prickle-toothed, occasionally with long hairs, margins smooth or scabrid. Inflorescence a raceme, racemose panicle or panicle. Rachis and pedicels slender, often hairy at branch-axils and usually scabrid to hairy below erect few- to several-flowered spikelets; florets ☿; disarticulating above glumes and between florets. Glumes ± equal, firmly membranous, keeled above, nerves 3–13, anastomosing, occasionally internerves long-hairy, adaxially with minute prickle-teeth. Lemma with two scabrid lateral lobes usually tipped by a minute to long, straight awn; central awn from sinus longer and stronger, usually geniculate, column ± twisted; nerves 5–9, anastomosing; abaxially pilose in two complete or incomplete transverse series of tufts of rigid hairs, sometimes reduced to marginal tufts. Palea membranous, keels and apex finely ciliate, interkeel glabrous or hairy, margins glabrous or with a few long hairs below. Callus abaxially ± flat or rounded, disarticulation oblique, margins variously long hairy. Rachilla and prolongation glabrous. Lodicules 2, cuneate, apically long-hairy, or glabrous. Stamens 3. Gynoecium: ovary glabrous; styles 2, free, swollen below. Caryopsis free, obovate to elliptic, planoconvex; embryo ⅓-½ caryopsis; hilum ± ⅓-⅕ caryopsis, round to somewhat elliptic. Chasmogamous and cleistogamous. Plates 6A, 11, 12.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Number of species in New Zealand within Rytidosperma Steud.
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Endemic)18
Indigenous (Non-endemic)3
Exotic: Fully Naturalised9
Total30
 Bibliography
Connor, H. E.; Edgar, E. 1979: Rytidosperma Steudel (Notodanthonia Zotov) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 17: 311–337.
Garnock-Jones, P.J. 2014: Evidence-based review of the taxonomic status of New Zealand’s endemic seed plant genera. New Zealand Journal of Botany 52(2): 163–212.
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.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Steudel, E.G. von 1854: Synopsis Plantarum Glumacearum. Vol. 1. Stuttgart.
Zotov, V.D. 1963: Synopsis of the grass subfamily Arundinoideae in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 1: 78–136.