Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Imperata cheesemanii Hack. (1903)
Description
Forming dense, large mats or scattered clumps, 50–80 cm; rhizomes 2–3 mm diam., internodes covered by bracts; branching extravaginal. Leaf-sheath light cream to brown, glabrous. Ligule 1 mm, truncate, ciliolate. Leaf-blade 12–50 × 0.5–1.5 cm, linear from pseudopetiolate base, glabrous apart from hairs on margins near ligule; margins sparsely scabrid above, tip acute, pungent. Culm 50–80 cm, nodes and internodes glabrous. Panicle 10–20 × 2–4 cm, narrow-lanceolate, gradually narrowed upwards to an acute point, greyish white with soft, dull hairs, c. 6 mm, concealing spikelets; branches erect or the lower ± spreading, simple or branched again near base. Spikelets c. 3 mm, enveloped by hairs to 6 mm. Glumes = spikelet, purplish, with some scattered long hairs; lower 5-nerved, upper 3-nerved. Lemmas and palea < glumes, hyaline, nerveless, denticulate. Stamen 1; anther c. 2 mm. Stigmas purple. 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]
