Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Lachnagrostis ammobia Edgar, New Zealand J. Bot. 33: 14-15 (1995)
Description
Lax, bluish green, perennial tufts, 15–35 cm, usually with narrow, involute leaves and very lax panicles; branching extravaginal, each shoot with 1–2 blunt-tipped sheaths at base and with the lowest leaf-blade often much reduced. Leaf-sheath submembranous, distinctly ribbed, smooth or sometimes scabrid above. Ligule (1.5)–2.5–4.5 mm, tapered above to acute tip or denticulate, abaxially scabrid. Leaf-blade 6–16 cm × 0.4–0.8 mm diam., inrolled, to 1.2 mm wide if flat, abaxially smooth to scabrid (especially near tip), adaxially finely scabrid; margins finely scabrid, tip fine, obtuse. Culm 10–15 cm, slender, usually included within uppermost leaf-sheath, internodes glabrous. Panicle (7)–10–16 × 1.5–12–(15) cm; branches few, long, filiform, ± closely, finely scabrid, each tipped by a single spikelet. Spikelets (4.5)–5–7 mm, light green. Glumes ± equal, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, scabrid above and on midnerve and hyaline margins, or sometimes sparsely scabrid throughout. Lemma (2.8)–3.2–3.7 mm, ± ½ length of glumes, 5-nerved, densely covered throughout by long, silky hairs, oblong, truncate, lateral nerves minutely excurrent, rarely lemma less hairy near apex and scabrid nerves clearly visible; awn 4–5.5–(6) mm, very fine, straight or ± curved, ± middorsal. Palea ⅔-¾ length of lemma, keels c. 0.1 mm apart, apex bifid. Callus hairs dense, 1.5–2 mm, to ⅔ length of lemma. Rachilla prolongation 0.5–0.8 mm, tipped by a dense tuft of hairs 1–2 mm. Lodicules 0.9–1.2 mm, linear. Anthers 0.9–1.3 mm. Caryopsis c. 2 × 0.7–1 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. [Declining]
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. 1995: New Zealand species of Deyeuxia P.Beauv. and Lachnagrostis Trin. (Graminieae: Aveneae)*. New Zealand Journal of Botany 33: 1–33.
