Rytidosperma nudum (Hook.f.) Connor & Edgar
≡Danthonia nuda Hook.f., Fl. N.Z. 2: 337 (1855)
≡Notodanthonia nuda (Hook.f.) Zotov, N.Z. J. Bot. 1: 112 (1963);
Holotype: K! Colenso 4140 from summit of Ruahine.
Open small tufts, leafy at ends of elongating shoots, rooting at nodes; leaves somewhat acute, ≈ culms, disarticulating at ligule; branching intravaginal. Leaf-sheath pale stramineous to light grey, glabrous; apical tuft of hairs few, up to 1-2 mm. Ligule to 0.4 mm. Leaf-blade to 8 cm, folded, narrow, rather soft, glabrous. Culm to 10 cm, internodes glabrous. Panicle small, erect, to 3 cm, of few spikelets on short pedicels; rachis and pedicels slender, closely short-scabrid and some longer hairs at branch axils. Spikelets usually 3-flowered, awns barely exserted from glumes. Glumes purplish centrally, ovate, obtuse, ± equal, 3.5-5-(5.7) mm; lower 3-(5)-nerved, upper 3-nerved. Lemma 2.3-3.5 mm, 5-(9)-nerved, upper and lower rows of hairs very sparse, upper row usually of small marginal tufts with a few scattered hairs between, < lemma lobes, lower row of small marginal tufts and few scattered hairs, elsewhere glabrous, margins with scattered hairs; lobes 0.2-0.5 mm, acute to acuminate, not awn-tipped; central awn 1-2 mm, erect, column scarcely developed. Palea 2.4-2.8 mm, reaching base of awn sinus, = upper lemma hairs, interkeel glabrous, margins occasionally with a few long hairs. Callus c. 0.3 mm, a few marginal hairs not reaching lower lemma hairs, or marginal tufts denser, slightly overlapping lower lemma tufts. Rachilla 0.5-0.8 mm. Anthers 0.7-0.8 mm. Caryopsis not seen. Plate 12E.
N.: Ruahine and Tararua Ranges. Bogs of alpine zone.
Endemic.
