Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Gramineae Juss.
Genus
Poa L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Poa matthewsii Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 34: 392 (1902)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Poa imbecilla var. matthewsii (Petrie) Hack. in Cheeseman, Man. New Zealand Fl. 913 (1906)
  • = Poa matthewsii var. tenuis Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 34: 393 (1902)
 Description

Markedly stoloniferous perennial, with bright green, rarely glaucous leaves, tending to lie along the ground, and very slender culms erect or geniculate and ascending, to 50 cm; branching extravaginal; leaf-blades persistent. Leaf-sheath pale green to light brown, membranous, mainly glabrous but with minute hairs and prickle-teeth near hyaline margin, occasionally near ligules and on keel. Ligule 0.7–1.5 mm, apically glabrous, entire, rounded, abaxially with dense, minute hairs. Leaf-blade (5.5)–10–17 cm × 1–2 mm, flat, soft, abaxially glabrous, adaxially with very minute fine hairs; margins ciliate near ligule, midrib minutely scabrid especially near filiform, acuminate tip. Culm 10–25–(36) cm, internodes very minutely scabrid just below panicle or rarely smooth. Panicle 10–25 cm, lax and delicate; rachis very minutely, sparsely scabrid, branches finely scabrid, spreading, with few spikelets at tip. Spikelets 3.5–5–(6) mm, (2)–3–4–(5)-flowered, green, rarely purplish. Glumes unequal; lower 0.8–1.5 mm, 1-nerved, narrow-lanceolate, subobtuse, upper 1.5–2 mm, 3-nerved, elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, midnerve scabrid. Lemma 2–3 mm, 5-nerved, narrow-lanceolate, subobtuse, nerves minutely scabrid above, lateral nerves occasionally with long hairs near base, internerves glabrous. Palea 1.5–2 mm, keels ciliate-scabrid, interkeel ± minutely hairy. Callus glabrous, or often with a few fine long hairs. Rachilla 0.5–1 mm, glabrous or with a few hairs. Lodicules 0.2–0.4 mm. Anthers 0.3–0.5 mm. Gynoecium: ovary 0.3–0.5 mm; stigma-styles 1.0–1.25 mm. Caryopsis c. 1 × 0.3 mm. 2n= 28. Plates 4D, 7B.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Cheeseman, T.F. 1906: Manual of the New Zealand Flora. Government Printer, Wellington.
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.
Petrie, D. 1902 ("1901"): Descriptions of New Native Plants, and Notes. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 34: 390–396.