Species

Rytidosperma thomsonii

Etymology

Rytidosperma: wrinkled seed
thomsonii: after Thomson

Current Conservation Status

2018 - At Risk - Declining

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2012 - Data Deficient
2009 - Data Deficient
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Rytidosperma thomsonii (Buchanan) Connor et Edgar

Family

Poaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

RYTTHO

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.

Structural Class

Grasses

Synonyms

Danthonia thomsonii Buchanan, Triodia thomsonii (Buchanan) Petrie, Notodanthonia thomsonii (Buchanan) Zotov

Distribution

Endemic. South Island, east of the main divide south to Otago

Habitat

A species of dry lowland and montane grassland

Similar Taxa

Recognition in the field: a medium stature Rytidosperma with erect culms, crowded dark spikes and florets with very short awn. The hairs on the lemma are only in two tufts on the margin. Similar to larger plants of Rytidosperma pumilum (which shares its habitat) which has scattered hairs on the lemma between the tufts and the awn is not visible to the naked eye. Also similar to R. buchananii which has a long bent awn on the floret.

Fruiting

January

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 24, 48

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Where To Buy

Not commercially available

Notes on taxonomy

There is good morphological and cytogenetic evidence that R. thomsonii could be split into at least two species

This page last updated on 17 Jan 2014