Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Gramineae Juss.
Genus
Poa L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Poa maia Edgar, New Zealand J. Bot. 24: 469-470, Figs 8 & 30 (1986)
 Description

Erect, shortly rhizomatous, perennial light green to purplish tufts, to 40 cm, with loosely packed shoots, and culms overtopping leaves; branching extravaginal; leaf-blades persistent. Leaf-sheath green or purplish, later light brown, membranous, glabrous, distinctly ribbed. Ligule (0.4)–0.7–1.5 mm, apically glabrous, entire, obtuse, abaxially slightly scabrid. Leaf-blade 1.5–16 cm × 0.5–1.5 mm, usually folded, rather wiry, often filiform rarely flat, smooth, but scabrid adaxially near ligule and abaxially on midrib near acute, ± incurved tip; margins scabrid. Culm (4)–12–35–(50) cm, internodes glabrous. Panicle (1.5)–3–9 cm, very lax; rachis glabrous, branches often in pairs, finely, sparingly scabrid, spreading, often purplish, each bearing few, conspicuous spikelets. Spikelets (2.3)–3–6 mm, (1)–2–3–(5)-flowered, green, often purplish. Glumes rather unequal, usually purplish; lower 1–2.5 mm, 1-nerved, linear-lanceolate, subacute, upper c. 2–3 mm, 3-nerved, elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, often scabrid on nerves. Lemma (2)–2.5–3.5 mm, 5-nerved, oblong-lanceolate, glabrous, apart from minute prickle-teeth on midnerve near obtuse, usually purplish tip. Palea 2–3 mm, keels shortly scabrid in upper ½, interkeel glabrous. Callus glabrous. Rachilla c. 0.5 mm, glabrous; prolongation almost twice as long. Lodicules 0.3–0.5 mm. Anthers (0.6)–0.8–1.2–(1.5) mm. Caryopsis c. 1.5 × 0.5 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]
Edgar, E. 1986: Poa L. in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 24: 425–503.