Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Poa senex Edgar, New Zealand J. Bot. 24: 476-479, Fig 11 & 26 (1986)
Description
Small, stoloniferous, almost completely glabrous, brownish green perennial tufts, c. 5–15–(25) cm, culms overtopping leaves; branching extravaginal; leaf-blades persistent. Leaf-sheath membranous, glabrous, ribbed, keeled. Ligule 0.5–1.5 mm, entire, tapered, glabrous throughout. Leaf-blade 1–3.5 cm × 1–2 mm, flat or folded, subcoriaceous, smooth, but midrib scabrid near curved tip; margins finely scabrid. Culm 3–15–(20) cm, very slender, erect or geniculate at base, internodes glabrous. Panicle 1–3 cm, ± open or contracted, with few, ovate spikelets; rachis, branches and pedicels slender with sparse, scattered prickle-teeth. Spikelets 2–3–(3.5) mm, 2–3-flowered, light green, tinged purple. Glumes unequal, submembranous with hyaline margins, a few prickle-teeth on midnerve near tip; lower 1.5–2 mm, 1-nerved, narrow-lanceolate, acute, upper 2–2.5 mm, (1)–3-nerved, elliptic-oblong, subobtuse to obtuse. Lemma 2–2.5 mm, 5-nerved, elliptic-ovate, obtuse, glabrous, but midnerve with short crinkled hairs to c. ½ length and sparsely prickle-toothed near tip, lateral nerves with a few hairs near base. Palea 1.5–1.8 mm, keels minutely scabrid, interkeel glabrous. Callus with a few wispy hairs. Rachilla c. 0.5 mm, glabrous. Lodicules c. 0.1 mm. Anthers 0.3–0.4 mm. Gynoecium: ovary 0.4–0.5 mm; stigma-styles 0.8–1 mm. Caryopsis c. 1 × 0.5 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. [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.
