Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Gramineae Juss.
Genus
Chionochloa Zotov
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Chionochloa macra Zotov, New Zealand J. Bot. 8: 91 (1970)
Vernacular Name(s):
Slim snow tussock
 Description

Tussock of modest stature with persistent sheaths and soft leaf-blades weathering in situ. Leaf-sheath to 15 cm, dark brown below lighter above, persistent, interrib hairs minute or short, apical tuft of hairs to 2 mm. Ligule to 0.6 mm. Leaf-blade to 60 cm × 5 mm, flat or shallowly U-shaped, persistent, abaxially glabrous except for prickle-teeth towards apex and occasionally some long hairs towards base, adaxially with rows of short hairs at base, abundant prickle-teeth; margin with long hairs below, prickle-teeth above. Culm to 60 cm, glabrous, or sheath and internode long hairy, sometimes empurpled. Inflorescence to 25 cm, open, pulvinate, glabrous except for few long hairs at branch axils and some hairs occasionally below spikelet. Spikelet of up to 7 florets. Glumes subequal, to 13 mm, glabrous, acute or occasionally bifid or mucronate, > adjacent lemma lobes; lower 3-nerved, upper 5-nerved. Lemma to 5 mm; hairs dense at margin and aside central nerve, shorter in other internerves or rarely absent, > sinus; lateral lobes to 7.5 mm including 3 mm awn, infrequently long triangular-acute; central awn to 12 mm from twisting column to 3.5 mm. Palea to 7.5 mm. Callus to 1 mm, hairs to 3 mm. Rachilla to 1 mm. Lodicules to 1 mm. Anthers to 4 mm. Gynoecium: ovary to 1 mm; stigma-styles to 3 mm. Caryopsis to 3.25 mm. 2n= 42. Plate 9B.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Connor, H.E. 1991: Chionochloa Zotov (Gramineae) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 29: 219–283.
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]
Zotov, V. D. 1970: Chionochloa macra (Gramineae): A New Species. New Zealand Journal of Botany 8: 91–93.