Rytidosperma buchananii
Synonyms
Danthonia buchananii Hook.f., Notodanthonia buchananii (Hook.f.) Zotov, Danthonia semiannularis var. breviseta Hook.f.
Family
Poaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Grasses
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
RYTBUC
Chromosome number
2n= 24
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2018 | At Risk – Declining
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. North Island, mainly in the central and southern mountains, but also present on the southern side of the Kawhia Harbour, and adjacent Awaroa Valley. Coastal in the eastern Wairarapa. South Island, throughout the mountains.
Habitat
Usually in rocky places or on open alluvial gravels
Similar taxa
The combination of short lemma lobes relative to the lemma, the very long palea which almost reaches the tip of the lemma lobes and is c. = the length of the upper lemma hairs, and the sparse rows of hairs (hairs on the callus can be thick, and the callus, lower and upper lemma hairs all overlap) distinguishes this species from all other species of Rytidosperma. In the field its robust dark coloured spikes are most similar to R. thomsonii, but in that species the awn is very short hardly protrudes past the glumes (+ other differences)
Etymology
rytidosperma: Wrinkled seed
buchananii: Named after John Buchanan (13 October 1819-1898) who was a New Zealand botanist and scientific artist and fellow of the Linnean Society.
Where To Buy
Not commercially available