Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Gramineae Juss.
Genus
Poa L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Poa sublimis Edgar, New Zealand J. Bot. 24: 465-466, Figs 6 & 19 (1986)
 Description

Low-growing perennial, forming small tufts or cushions to c. 15 cm, with culms usually somewhat overtopping the rather stiff, green or purplish leaves; branching extravaginal; leaf-blades persistent. Leaf-sheath creamy brown or purple, glabrous, hyaline, ribs distinct. Ligule c. 0.5–(1) mm, entire, narrowed to a subobtuse point, glabrous throughout. Leaf-blade 1–5 cm × (0.5)–1–1.5 mm, folded, smooth but with a few prickle-teeth abaxially on midrib near incurved tip, and on margins near ligule and tip. Culm 1–10–(15) cm, internodes glabrous. Panicle 1–4.5 cm, lax; rachis and slender spreading branches and pedicels filiform, smooth, rarely sparsely scabrid below the very few spikelets. Spikelets 3–4 mm, 3–4-flowered, light green, usually purplish. Glumes subequal, smooth, but midnerve prickle-toothed in upper ½; lower 1.5–2.5 mm, 1-nerved, ovate-lanceolate, acute, upper 1.8–3.2 mm, 3-nerved, ovate, subobtuse. Lemma 2–3.5 mm, 5–7-nerved, ovate, obtuse, smooth, but upper ⅓ of midnerve sparsely scabrid. Palea 1.5–2.5 mm, keels short-scabrid, interkeel glabrous. Callus glabrous. Rachilla c. 0.5 mm, glabrous. Lodicules 0.3–0.6 mm. Anthers (0.2)–0.3–(0.5) 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.; 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.