Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Poa chathamica Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 34: 394 (1902)
Synonymy:
  • Poa anceps var. chathamica (Petrie) Zotov, Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 73: 236 (1943)
Vernacular Name(s):
Bog poa
 Description

Dense, drooping perennial swards from long, narrow rhizomes, or stiff tufts to 90 cm, with light green leaves ≈ culms; branching extravaginal near plant base, intravaginal above; leaf-blades persistent. Leaf-sheath light green to light brown or straw-coloured, coriaceous, ribbed, smooth to finely scabrid, keeled. Ligule (0.2)–0.5–1 mm, a truncate stiff ciliate rim, abaxially with matted stiff minute hairs. Leaf-blade 5–30 cm × 2.5–4.5 mm, folded to flat, or inrolled and c. 1 mm diam., coriaceous, abaxially smooth, adaxially ribbed, covered with short prickle-teeth and sometimes short stiff hairs; margins ± thickened, smooth to sparsely scabrid, midrib scabrid near straight-sided, pungent tip. Culm 10–80 cm, internodes smooth, densely scabrid below panicle. Panicle 5.5–12 cm, lax or contracted; branches spreading or erect, sparsely to densely scabrid. Spikelets 6.5–14.5 mm, (2)–3–5-flowered, greyish green to light greenish brown. Glumes subequal, 3-nerved, elliptic-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, often with minute fine hairs near tip, occasionally scabrid throughout, midnerve ciliate-scabrid especially on upper ½; lower 4.5–7.5 mm, upper 4.5–8 mm; margins ciliate. Lemma 4.5–9 mm, 5-nerved, elliptic- to oblong-lanceolate, subobtuse to subacute, scabrid above or occasionally throughout, midnerve with long fine hairs to ½ length, lateral nerves hairy near base; margins minutely ciliate. Palea 3.5–7.5 mm, keels rather stiffly ciliate-scabrid, interkeel with sparse minute hairs. Callus with loose web of long fine crinkled hairs. Rachilla 0.5–1 mm, glabrous to sparsely minutely pubescent; prolongation twice as long. Lodicules 0.5–2 mm, occasionally hair-tipped. Anthers 2–3.5 mm. Caryopsis 2 × 0.5 mm. 2n= 112.

[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. 1986: Poa L. in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 24: 425–503.
Petrie, D. 1902 ("1901"): Descriptions of New Native Plants, and Notes. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 34: 390–396.
Zotov, V.D. 1943: Certain Changes in the Nomenclature of New Zealand Species of Gramineae. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 73: 233–238.