Rytidosperma penicillatum
Slender Wallaby-grass
Sparsely tufted weeping perennial grass with short underground stems.
Additional information
- SynonymAustrodanthonia penicillata, Danthonia penicillata
- FamilyPoaceae
- StoreyLower storey
- Sizeto 20 cm x 30 cm, stems to 0.6 m high
- Plant groupingGrasses, Rushes & Sedges
- LeavesFine, bent, hairless to sparsely hairy, flat, folded or inrolled leaves to 15 cm x 2 mm.
- Flower colourPurple
- Flowering timeOctober to February
- FlowersSlender flowerheads to 15 cm on arching stems. Scattered 4-7-flowered spikelets. Upper row of hairs on lower floral bract reduced to 2 small central & 2 larger marginal tufts, lower row short & sparse. Central bristle fine, twisted at base, bent.
- Bird attractingSeeds
- Butterfly attractingNo
- Frog habitatNo
- Growing conditionsMoist well drained soils of cooler, damp forests. Frost tolerant. Dappled and semi shade.
- Garden useA dainty little tuft which is useful in shaded positions. Useful in mown lawns.
- Commercially availableIndigenous nursery
- Conservation statusLocally common within its preferred growing conditions
- Related speciesSimilar to Rytidosperma pilosum which generally has a more compact flowerhead. Base of the central bristle is stouter, longer and more strongly twisted. The tip of the upper floral bract is shorter, barely reaching gap between lobes of lower flora bract.
Photo Gallery
Photographer/s: 1-3, 6 Marilyn Bull ©; 4 Peter Kinchington, Royal Botanic Gardens Board ©; 5 Greg Jordan © University of Tasmania
Plant Communities