Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Agrostis imbecilla Zotov (1943)
Synonymy:
- = Agrostis tenella Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 22: 442 (1889 [1890])
Description
Very slender, lax, perennial tufts, 15–35 cm, with long, very slender, spike-like panicles on slender culms much overtopping leaves; branching extravaginal. Leaf-sheath narrow, membranous, light creamish brown to reddish, glabrous, distinctly ribbed. Ligule 0.8–1.6 mm, obtuse, often erose, abaxially glabrous. Leaf-blade 2–13 cm × 0.2–0.4 mm diam., involute, filiform, flaccid, abaxially finely striate and, in young leaves, finely scabrid, later smooth, adaxially scabrid on ribs; margins scabrid, tip fine, blunt. Culm almost filiform, erect or geniculate at base, internodes glabrous. Panicle (2.5)–5–9 cm × 2–3 mm, contracted, extremely narrow-linear; rachis and few short erect branches and pedicels sparsely, finely scabrid, often pale purplish. Spikelets 1.5–2.4 mm, pale greenish purple to straw coloured. Glumes ± equal, lanceolate, minutely scabrid on keel and on margins near acute tip. Lemma 1.5–1.9 mm, at times ≈ glumes, glabrous, faintly 5-nerved, ovate-oblong, apex denticulate, awnless, or rarely a few lemmas subapically awned, awn straight, fine, up to 1 mm, scarcely projecting beyond glumes. Palea 0.1–0.2 mm, ovate. Lodicules 0.3–0.4 mm. Callus with few very minute hairs. Anthers 0.6–1 mm. Caryopsis 1–1.4 × 0.3 mm.
[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. [Data Deficient]
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. [Data Deficient]
Edgar, E.; Forde, M. B. 1991: Agrostis in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 29: 139–161.
Petrie, D. 1890 ("1889"): Descriptions of New Native Plants. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 22: 439–443.
