Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Gramineae Juss.
Genus
Rytidosperma Steud.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Rytidosperma merum Connor & Edgar, New Zealand J. Bot. 17: 328 (1979)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Austrodanthonia mera (Connor & Edgar) H.P.Linder, Telopea 7: 272 (1997)
 Description

Light green, fine-leaved dense tufts, shortly rhizomatous, later with straw-coloured, long, drooping or trailing culms; leaves « culms; branching extra- or intravaginal. Leaf-sheath pale stramineous, glabrous; apical tuft of hairs few, to 1.5 mm. Ligule 0.1–0.2 mm. Leaf-blade to 25–(40) cm, ± flat, glabrous or occasionally a few scattered short hairs, margins scabrid. Culm very slender, tawny, internodes smooth but minutely scabrid below inflorescence, elongating to c. 140 cm at maturity. Raceme, or rarely racemose panicle, with 1–2 short branches at base, slender, to 8 cm, of few, narrow, almost sessile spikelets; rachis and pedicels finely scabrid with longer fine hairs on margin especially below spikelets. Spikelets 4–6-flowered, awns exserted from glumes. Glumes light green, occasionally purplish, lanceolate, subobtuse, (7)–9.5–13–(15) mm, ± equal, both 5–(7)-nerved. Lemma (2.5)–3–4 mm, 7–9-nerved, upper row of hairs in small marginal tufts only, ≈ lemma, or occasionally upper tufts absent, lower row in small marginal tufts only, or a few small tufts or single hairs between, elsewhere glabrous and shining, occasional hairs on margin; lobes (3)–6–7.5–(8.5) mm, soon tapering to fine awn; central awn (6.5)–8–11.5–(14) mm, column (2.5)–3–3.5 mm. Palea (2.5)–3.5–4.5–(5) mm, > upper lemma hairs, interkeel and margins glabrous. Callus 0.6–1 mm, marginal hair tufts rarely reaching base of lower lateral tufts. Rachilla 0.5–0.6 mm. Anthers 0.3–0.9 and 1.2–1.5 mm. Caryopsis 1.7–2.5 × 0.9–1.2 mm; embryo 0.7–1 mm; hilum 0.5–0.7 mm. Plate 11B.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Connor, H. E.; Edgar, E. 1979: Rytidosperma Steudel (Notodanthonia Zotov) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 17: 311–337.
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Data deficient]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
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. [Nationally Vulnerable]
Linder, H.P. 1997: Nomenclatural corrections in the Rytidosperma complex (Danthonieae, Poaceae). Telopea 7(3): 269–274.