Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Gramineae Juss.
Genus
Stenostachys Turcz.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Stenostachys laevis (Petrie) Connor, New Zealand J. Bot. 32: 146 (1994)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Asprella laevis Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 27: 406 (1894 [1895]) – as Asprella lævis
  • ≡ Hystrix laevis (Petrie) Allan, Bull. New Zealand Dept. Sci. Industr. Res. 49. 88 (1936)
  • ≡ Cockaynea laevis (Petrie) Zotov, Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 73: 234 (1943)
  • ≡ Elymus laevis (Petrie) A.Löve & Connor, New Zealand J. Bot. 20: 184 (1982)
 Description

Perennial grass with long stolons, rooting and shooting at nodes, inflorescences narrow and nodding or drooping on long slender culms. A species of grasslands. Leaf-sheath 5–10 cm, with retrorse hairs 0.5 mm, or glabrous; keeled. Auricles absent or minute, 0.15–0.25 mm, scarcely clasping. Ligule 0.5–1 mm, lacerate; prominent. Leaf-blade 15–25 cm × 1.5–2 mm, flat, thin, abaxially with distinct midrib, glabrous or occasionally with hairs 1 mm beside ribs or shortly retrorse prickle-toothed, adaxially with prickle-teeth on ribs occasionally with hairs 0.5 mm; margin glabrous or shortly toothed. Culm 50–75 cm, nodes inconspicuous, internodes glabrous, slender. Inflorescence very narrow, slender, 8–15 cm, of 10–25 spikelets > internodes; internodes 2.5 mm to 6 mm below; rachis prolongation 3–6 mm. Spikelets 8–12 mm, of 1–2 florets, appearing shortly stipitate above glumes; rachilla prolongation 3–4 mm, shortly prickle-toothed. Glumes 2, awnlike, 2–6 mm, ± equal, > internodes, 1-nerved, prickle-toothed on keel and margins, < spikelet. Lemma 6.5–8 mm, smooth except for prickle-teeth towards bifid apex and evident on lateral nerves in upper half; keel ± prominent; scabrid awn 0.5–1 mm. Palea 6.5–7 mm, ≤ lemma; apex bifid; keels shortly toothed and inrolled. Callus 0.5–0.75 mm, flat; disarticulation almost flat. Rachilla to 1.3 mm if 2-flowered, shortly prickle-toothed. Lodicules 0.75–1.75 mm, lobed or entire. Anthers 1.6–2.6 mm, often retained on apex of caryopsis. Gynoecium: ovary 1–2 mm; stigma-styles 1.75–2.25 mm. Caryopsis 4 mm; embryo 1–1.3 mm. Chasmogamous and cleistogamous. 2n= 28.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Allan, H.H. 1936: An Introduction to the Grasses of New Zealand. Wellington.
Connor, H.E. 1994: Indigenous New Zealand Triticeae: Gramineae. New Zealand Journal of Botany 32: 125–154.
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]
Löve, Á.; Connor, H. E. 1982: Relationships and taxonomy of New Zealand wheatgrasses. New Zealand Journal of Botany 20: 169–186.
Petrie, D. 1895 ("1894"): Descriptions of New Native Plants. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 27: 405–406.
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.