Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Koeleria cheesemanii (Hack.) Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 48: 192 (1915 [1916]) – as Cheesemanii
Synonymy:
  • Trisetum cheesemanii Hack., Trans. New Zealand Inst. 35: 281 (1903)
  • = Koeleria novozelandica var. pubiculmis Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 65: 117 (1907)
 Description

Densely caespitose, of low to medium stature (7)–9–17–(43) cm; with stiff, semi-pungent, pale greyish green leaves, their sheaths often imbricate and of ± equal length, usually overtopped by densely villous culms bearing dense cylindrical panicles; branching intravaginal, sometimes extravaginal at base. Leaf-sheath abaxially glabrous, scabrid, pubescent or rarely ± villous. Ligule 0.3–0.8–(1.6) mm, rim-like or truncate, sometimes erose, ciliate, abaxially glabrous or hairy. Leaf-blade 1.2–9–(21) cm × (0.5)–0.6–3.2–(5.5) mm, usually folded, involute, or convolute, or sometimes flat, linear-lanceolate or narrower, abaxially minutely scabrid to densely pubescent or sometimes villous, midrib often prominent below, adaxially scabrid or pubescent on ribs; margin with minute prickle-teeth or longer hairs, apex hooded, acute to acuminate. Culm (1)–4–27–(35) cm, pale green to purple, internodes sparsely to densely pubescent to villous, very rarely glabrous. Panicle densely contracted, usually cylindrical (to spike-like) occasionally interrupted especially at base, (1.3)–2.6–5.0–(7.3) × (0.3)–0.8–1.5–(2.2) cm; branches erect, pubescent, appressed to rachis. Spikelets (3.8)–4.3–5.2–(6.9) mm, 2–3-flowered, pale green, purplish or golden. Glumes subequal, sometimes scabrid above and on keel; lower 3.5–3.8–(4.8) mm, 1–(3)-nerved, oblong, with prickle-teeth on upper ½ to ⅔ of keel, upper (3.2)–4.0–4.5–(6.1) mm, 3-nerved, ovate, with prickle-teeth on upper ⅔ of keel. Lemma 3.5–6.0 mm, 3–5-nerved, oblong, narrow obovate, or lanceolate, acute, acuminate, or obtuse, entire to mucronate or shortly awned and sometimes minutely bidentate; awn apical or subapical, to 1.5–(3.2) mm. Palea 3.0–5.2 mm. Callus hairs 0.3–0.6 mm. Rachilla 0.8–1.0–(1.4) mm with hairs to 0.5 mm; prolongation c. 1.5 mm with hairs to 0.3 mm. Lodicules (0.7)–0.8–1.2 mm, ± bifid, erose. Anthers 0.6–1.1 mm. Gynoecium: ovary c. 0.7 mm; stigma-styles c. 1 mm. Caryopsis 2–2.5 × 0.6–0.7 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]
Domin, K. 1907: Monographie der Gattung Koeleria. Bibliotheca Botanica 65
Edgar, E.; Gibb, E. S. 1999: Koeleria Pers. (Gramineae: Avenaeae) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 37: 51–61.
Häckel, E. 1903: On New Species of Grasses from New Zealand. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 35: 377–385.
Petrie, D. 1916: Descriptions of new native phanerogams. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 48: 186–192.