Rytidosperma penicillatum
Poaceae tribe Danthonieae
hairy danthonia, hairy oat grass, hairy wallaby grass, poverty grass, purple awn wallaby grass
30-90 cm, erect, mostly smooth and glabrous, scabrous-pubescent immediately below the inflorescence, branching extravaginal, the new shoots with scaly cataphylls.
mostly basal, greatly exceeded by the culms, flag leaf blades usually not reaching the inflorescence;
sheaths densely hairy or glabrous, with apical tufts of hairs, apical hairs 1-3.5 mm;
ligules 0.1-1 mm;
blades to 30 cm long and 5 mm wide, flat, folded, or rolled, pubescent or glabrous.
4-10 cm, racemose or paniculate, contracted;
pedicels much shorter than the spikelets.
9-15(18) mm, longer than the rachis internodes, with 5-10 florets;
rachilla segments 0.2-0.5 mm.
8-14(17.5) mm, subequal, lanceolate, sometimes with scattered hairs;
lower glumes (5)7-9(11)-veined;
upper glumes 5-7(9)-veined;
calluses 0.5-1.2 mm, longer than wide, with marginal tufts of hairs usually reaching the lower lemma hairs;
lemma bodies (2)2.5-4 mm, 9-veined, lower row of hairs continuous or with weak central tufts, hairs of the marginal tufts not or just reaching the upper row of hairs, upper row of hairs composed of 2 marginal tufts, sometimes with 2 additional scanty tufts between, hairs reaching or slightly exceeding the base of the awn;
lobes 5-13 mm, aristate;
awns (7)9-16 mm;
paleas 3-6 mm, exceeding the lemma sinuses, emarginate, intercostal region glabrous or scabrous, margins glabrous or sparsely long-hairy, veins ciliate;
anthers 0.4-2.5 mm.
1.8-2.5(3) mm long, 0.8-1.1(1.6) mm wide;
embryos 0.7-1(1.5) mm;
hila 0.4-0.5(0.7) mm.
= unknown.
Rytidosperma penicillatum
Poaceae tribe Danthonieae
Rytidosperma penicillatum is endemic to Australia and has been introduced to New Zealand as well as North America. Although considered a poor quality forage, it was introduced and grown experimentally in several states under the name Danthonia pilosa R. Br. [= R. pilosa (R. Br.) Connor & Edgar]. It has become well-established in northern California and southwestern Oregon, mainly in coastal areas. Since it does well on dry, nutrient depleted soils and competes well with more desirable species, it is considered a troublesome pest.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
See subfamily description.
The Danthonieae, the only tribe in the Danthonioideae, include approximately 13 genera and 290 species, most of which grow in mesic to xeric, open habitats such as grasslands, heaths, and open woods. It is most abundant in the Southern Hemisphere, with only Danthonia being native in the Northern Hemisphere.
Two of the genera recognized here, Karroochloa and Rytidosperma, are frequently included in Danthonia, from which they can be distinguished by the tufts of hairs on their lemmas. It is much more difficult to identify a character, or combination of characters, that will consistently distinguish them from each other. Glume length works in this Flora because of the species involved, but it is not generally reliable.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Culms 200-700 cm tall; inflorescences plumose, 30-130 cm long | Cortaderia |
1. Culms 2-100 cm tall; inflorescences not plumose, 0.5-12 cm long. | → 2 |
2. Lemmas with hairs in 1 or more transverse row(s) above the callus and/or at midlength. | → 3 |
3. Panicles subcapitate; glumes 3.5-7 mm long | Karroochloa |
3. Panicles narrow; glumes 8-15 mm long | Rytidosperma |
2. Lemmas glabrous or, if with hairs, the hairs not in transverse rows. | → 4 |
4. Plants annual | Schismus |
4. Plants perennial. | → 5 |
5. Lemma apices entire, acute to acuminate | Tribolium |
5. Lemma apices bifid, obtuse, acute, or acuminate | Danthonia |
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