Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Gramineae Juss.
Genus
Poa L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Poa cockayneana Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 45: 274 (1912 [1913]) – as Cockayniana
Vernacular Name(s):
Avalanche grass; Upokotangata
 Description

Large green perennial clumps or extensive swards, to c. 40–(80) cm, not tussock-forming, stoloniferous between tufts, and shoots ± decumbent at base; branching intravaginal; leaf-blades persistent. Leaf-sheath straw-brown to reddish brown or grey-brown, glabrous, membranous, distinctly ribbed. Ligule c. 0.5 mm, truncate, ciliate, abaxially minutely hairy. Leaf-blade (6)–10–35 cm, flat, to 4.5 mm wide, coriaceous, abaxially glabrous, ribs prominent, adaxially minutely pubescent; margins scabrid or smooth, midnerve scabrid near acicular tip. Culm 20–40–(60) cm, usually < leaves, internodes smooth to slightly scabrid below panicle. Panicle 10–20 cm, very lax with few rather large spikelets in clusters of 2–3 at tips of very slender, widely spreading, pubescent-scabrid branches. Spikelets 7–9.5 mm, 3–5–(6)-flowered, light green. Glumes ± equal, (4)–5–6.5–(7) mm, subacuminate, sparsely short scabrid to smooth, midnerve scabrid in upper ½; lower (1)–3-nerved, narrow-lanceolate, upper 3–(5)-nerved, elliptic-lanceolate; margins membranous with scattered fine prickle-teeth above or almost throughout. Lemma 5–6.5 mm, prominently 5-nerved, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, short-scabrid to pubescent-scabrid throughout, midnerve with long fine crinkled hairs in lower ½, lateral nerves with hairs on lower ⅓; margins membranous sparsely scabrid above or almost throughout. Palea 4–4.5 mm, keels ciliate-dentate, interkeel with minute hairs and prickle-teeth in lower ⅔, flanks smooth to slightly scabrid; margin prickle-toothed near tip. Callus with long tuft of crinkled hairs. Rachilla 1–1.5 mm, almost glabrous with a few prickle-teeth or scattered hairs; prolongation twice as long. Lodicules c. 0.5 mm. Anthers c. 2 mm. Caryopsis c. 2 × 1 mm. 2n= 112.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
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. [Not Threatened]
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. [Not Threatened]
Edgar, E. 1986: Poa L. in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 24: 425–503.
Petrie, D. 1913: Descriptions of new species and varieties of native phanerogams. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 45: 265–275.