Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Microlaena carsei Cheeseman, Trans. New Zealand Inst. 47: 47 (1915)
Synonymy:
- ≡ Microlaena avenacea var. carsei (Cheeseman) Zotov, Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 73: 235 (1943)
Description
Rhizomatous, perennial with fine elongate stem internodes with tufts of narrow leaves from which a long slender shortly-branched inflorescence emerges. Rhizome short; branching extravaginal; cataphylls 1–2 cm, bases swollen, shining, keeled, acute. Internodes elongate, slender, shining glabrous, stramineous to brown. Leaf-sheath glabrous, keel stout, margin membranous. Ligule 0.75–1 mm, broadly triangular. Auricles 2, margin hairs 1.5–2–2.5 mm. Leaf-blade 8–15–25 cm × 4–5–6 mm wide, bright green, keel stout; margins sharp, coarsely prickled in close-set columns, becoming smooth below except for some short, stiff hairs near ligule. Culm to 60 cm, laterally compressed, internodes longitudinally grooved, glabrous. Panicle 20–25–35 cm, narrow, slender, nodes ± close, branches ± appressed, erect, filiform, ≥ internodes; nodes with short branches of close-set spikelets and longer branches naked below; rachis longitudinally grooved, rachis, branches and pedicels with fine prickles. Spikelets 15–23 mm, numerous, solitary, on short or long pedicels. Glumes unequal, covering the base of spikelet, margins ciliate; lower 0.2–0.6 mm, 1-nerved, < callus hairs, upper 0.75–1.0–1.7 mm, 3-nerved, triangular acute or irregularly lobed or erose, > callus hairs. Lower Ø lemma 5–10–16 mm, 3–5-nerved, prickles on keel and above smooth elsewhere, adaxially hairy above, awn ½ lemma length, sometimes ≤ ☿ lemma; callus hairs to 0.5 mm; upper Ø lemma 14–20–25 mm, 3–5-nerved, densely prickle-toothed on keel and above, smooth elsewhere, adaxially hairy above, awn ½ lemma length; callus hairs to 1.5 mm. ☿ lemma 5–6–10 mm, 3–5-nerved, awn 0 or short (0.1–0.5 mm) between small lobes, margins ciliate above, apex deeply bifid (0.4–0.8 mm) and ciliate. Palea 3–3.5–4.5 mm, membranous, hyaline, 1-nerved, apex ciliate; often enclosed by upper Ø lemma. Lodicules 2, 0.8–1.0–1.5 mm, > ovary, lobed, several nerves. Stamens 2; anthers 1.0–1.7–2.2 mm, yellow. Gynoecium: ovary 0.65–0.75 mm; stigma-styles 1.0–1.3–2.2 mm, naked below. Caryopsis 3–3.5–4 mm; embryo 0.5–0.6 mm. 2n= 48.
[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Bibliography
Cheeseman, T.F. 1914 (1915): New Species of Flowering-plants. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 47: 45–47.
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. [Nationally Endangered]
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]
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.
