Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Festuca luciarum Connor (1998)
Description
Short extravaginally tufted to tall stoloniferous grass with long shoots bearing inflorescences of small panicles of few broad dark violet suffused usually patent spikelets on short prostrate to ascending culms above the shorter leaves. Branching extravaginal. Leaf-sheath 2–5–(8) cm, glabrous, striate, much wider than leaf-blade, becoming brown and fibrous below, margins membranous; apical auricles 0.3–0.4 mm, rounded, ciliate. Ligule as for auricles. Leaf-blade 3–12 cm × 0.6–1.0 mm diam.; ± hexagonal with evident ribs or folded, glabrous, glaucous, adaxially and on margins with a multitude of short antrorse hairs; TS: 5–7 vascular bundles, 7–9 sclerenchyma strands, rarely irregular. Culm 4–15 cm or 15–30–(50) cm, in swollen shoots, erect or erect-ascending, usually > leaf-blades; nodes visible, internodes glabrous. Panicle (2)–3–7–(10) cm, with 4–7 nodes, 5–11–20 spikelets; branches erect or weakly spreading usually solitary, basal branch 2–5 cm of 1–4 spikelets, not naked below, uppermost 4–5 spikelets solitary on short pedicels; rachis mostly glabrous and frequently tortuous below, branches and pedicels usually prickle-toothed. Spikelets 8–12 mm × (4)–5–7 mm wide, of 4–7–(10) florets, glaucous, dull violet suffused, imbricate, becoming evidently patent at anthesis and up to 10 mm wide. Glumes evidently unequal, keeled, narrowing to become acute or acuminate, smooth but occasionally prickle-toothed on keels, apex with long (0.2–0.5 mm) cilia, margins shortly or conspicuously long ciliate; lower 2.6–3–4 mm, l-nerved, upper 3–4.5–6 mm, 3-nerved, nerves sometimes evident. Lemma 5–6–(7) mm, lobes 0 or very short, 5-nerved, slightly keeled above, inrolled, ± prickle-toothed throughout or short stiff hairy and prickle-toothed; awn 0–0.5–1 mm; apex of lowest lemma usually awnless and often long (0.3–0.5 mm) ciliate. Palea 5.5–6.5–(7) mm, usually > lemma, apex deeply (0.3–1 mm) bifid, keels toothed in upper ⅓ occasionally more, interkeel hairs above, margins of flanks ciliate. Callus 0.2–0.3 mm, shortly stiffly bearded throughout; articulation oblique. Rachilla 0.75–1.5 mm, with short prickle-teeth or stiff hairs. Lodicules 1–1.4 mm, ≥ ovary, lobed, glabrous. Anthers 2–2.5–(3.5) mm. Gynoecium: ovary 1 mm, turbinate, hispid hairs at apex or glabrous; stigma-styles (1.75)–2–3 mm. Caryopsis 3 mm; embryo 1 mm; hilum linear, 2 mm.
[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Bibliography
Connor, H.E. 1998: Festuca (Poaceae: Gramineae) in New Zealand 1. Indigenous Taxa. New Zealand Journal of Botany 36: 329–367.
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]
