''Rytidosperma tenuius'', or purplish wallaby grass, is an Australian species of wallaby grass found in south eastern Australia, usually on clay or sandy soils in the drier
eucalyptus
''Eucalyptus'' () is a genus of more than 700 species of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae. Most species of ''Eucalyptus'' are trees, often Mallee (habit), mallees, and a few are shrubs. Along with several other genera in the tribe Eucalyp ...
woodlands.
The grass is perennial, and it may grow up to 1.2 m tall. It is native to the Australian states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, and it has been introduced to New Zealand.
The inflorescences have a characteristic reddish colouration, and the attractive purplish bracts of young flowers can also aid in identification.
The specific epithet ''tenuius'' is derived from the
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
for thin.
[Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, page 268]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15520683
tenuius
Bunchgrasses of Australasia
Flora of the Australian Capital Territory
Flora of New South Wales
Flora of Queensland
Flora of Victoria (state)
Flora of South Australia
Poales of Australia