Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Deschampsia pusilla Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 23: 403 (1890 [1891])
Description
Compact, leafy tufts, 2–4.5 cm, leaves often reaching to base of panicle. Leaf-sheath wider than leaf-blade, firmly membranous, light brownish grey, rounded, ribs few, inconspicuous. Ligule (1.5)–2–3.5 mm, tapered to acute tip. Leaf-blade 5.5–17 × 0.3–0.5 mm, involute, smooth; margins finely scabrid, tip subobtuse. Culm 1.2–2.5–(4) cm, branched at base, often almost completely hidden among leaves, internodes glabrous. Panicle (5)–8.5–18 mm, ± compact; branches few, sparsely, minutely scabrid. Spikelets 2.2–3 mm, greenish, shining. Glumes ± equal and equalling spikelets, keels sparsely scabrid above, tip subacute to acute to almost mucronate; lower 1-nerved, narrow-lanceolate, upper 3-nerved, elliptic-lanceolate. Lemma 1.5–2.2 mm, faintly 5-nerved, oblong, 4–5-toothed with short terminal mucro, 0.3–0.5 mm, in notch. Palea ≤ lemma, apex deeply bifid, keels finely scabrid. Callus hairs c. 0.2 mm. Rachilla hairs c. 0.2 mm, fine, or 0. Anthers (0.3)–0.5–0.6 mm. Caryopsis c. 1 × 0.4 mm. Cleistogamus.
[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Bibliography
Cheeseman, T.F. 1925: Manual of the New Zealand Flora. Edition 2. Government Printer, Wellington.
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]
Petrie, M. A. 1891 ("1890"): Descriptions of new native plants, with notes on some known species. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 23: 398–407.
