Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Zotovia acicularis Edgar & Connor (1998)
Description
Small tufts 3–13 cm from long fine rhizomes, of many dense fine leaves with needle-like tips subtending short racemose inflorescences at first partly concealed among leaves, later borne well above on elongate stems; branching intravaginal. Leaf-sheath to 8 mm, keeled, glabrous, wider than blade, lobed apically. Auricles 0. Ligule c. 0.5 mm, tapered and longer at centre, noticeably ciliate. Leaf-blade 1–2.6 cm × 0.5 mm diam., tightly inrolled, light green with cream cross-veinlets, glabrous, pinched into curved, pale tip; margins with minute prickle-teeth. Culm very slender, minutely pubescent below inflorescence. Raceme c. 1 cm, of 3–6 spikelets; pedicels with dense, minute prickle-teeth. Spikelets 5–7.5 mm, laterally compressed. Glumes ± equal, 2–3.5 mm, c. ½ length of spikelet, lanceolate, subacute, keeled above, glabrous, margins with minute prickle-teeth; lower 1-nerved, upper 3-nerved. Ø lemmas unequal, lanceolate, long-narrowed above, keel and margins minutely prickle-toothed; lower Ø lemma 5–5.5 mm, 5-nerved, callus hairs 1–1.5 mm; upper Ø lemma 6–6.8 mm, 3-nerved, callus hairs 1.5–2 mm. ☿ lemma 3–4 mm, narrow elliptic, glabrous, tip truncate, erose to almost lacerate, ciliate. Palea 2.5–2.75 mm, apex ciliate. Lodicules c. 0.75 mm, flabellate, erose. Anthers 1.1–1.5 mm. Gynoecium: ovary c. 0.6 mm; stigma-styles c. 1 mm, stigmas plumose. Caryopsis not seen.
[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Naturally Uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Naturally Uncommon]
Edgar, E.; Connor, H. E. 1998: Zotovia and Microlaena: New Zealand Ehrhartoid Gramineae. New Zealand Journal of Botany 36: 565–586.
