Stenostachys gracilis (Hook.f.) Connor

Perennial stoloniferous grass forming open, wide and flat- leaved patches with narrow nodding inflorescences; often quite stout in forests. Leaf-sheath 5–15 cm, with long (0.5–1 mm) hairs irregularly retrorse or erect, occasionally few or glabrous. Auricles to 0.5 mm or minute, scarcely clasping. Ligule 0.3–1 mm, erose. Leaf-blade 10–20 cm × 1.5–2 mm, flat, thin, usually with hairs 0.5–1 mm or with sparse short prickle-teeth adaxially and glabrous abaxially; margins glabrous. Culm 70–100 cm, slender, nodes evident sometimes ± geniculate, internodes glabrous. Inflorescence slender, narrow, 10–20 cm, of 15–30 spikelets > internodes; internodes 2–5 mm but longer at base; rachis prolongation 2–6 mm. Spikelets to 10 mm, of 1–2–3 florets, on 1–1.5 mm stipes in the absence of glumes; rachilla prolongation 1.5–3 mm, conspicuously short stiff hairy. Glumes usually 0, sometimes 1 or 2 and awn-like, 0–2–3 mm, very occasionally 5–6 mm above, 1-nerved, prickle-toothed, « spikelets. Lemma 7–10 mm, prickle-teeth abundant, weakly keeled, infrequently bifid at apex, canaliculate above and tapering to awn 1.5–6 mm. Palea 5–7 mm, < lemma, apex usually produced but sometimes retuse; keels toothed and usually inrolled. Callus short, 0.5 mm, surrounded by abundant short stiff hairs; disarticulation ± oblique. Rachilla 1.5–2.5 mm, shortly prickle-toothed. Lodicules 0.75–1 mm. Anthers 1.5–2 mm, often retained on apex of caryopsis. Gynoecium: ovary 1.25–1.4 mm; stigma-styles 1.5–2 mm. Caryopsis 4–4.25 mm; embryo 1–1.2 mm. Chasmogamous and commonly cleistogamous. 2n= 28.

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