Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Gramineae Juss.
Genus
Poa L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Poa tonsa Edgar, New Zealand J. Bot. 24: 477, Fig 10 & 18 (1986)
 Description

Small, compact, light green perennial tufts, to c. 15 cm; branching intravaginal, sometimes extravaginal at plant base; leaf-blades persistent. Leaf-sheath light creamy brown to reddish purple, membranous, ribbed, smooth or papillose above, especially on keel. Ligule 0.5–1 mm, apically glabrous, centrally tapered, erose, abaxially ciliate. Leaf-blade 1–3.5 cm × 1–2 mm, flat, subcoriaceous, abaxially smooth, adaxially minutely scabrid; margins densely, finely scabrid, tip curved. Culm 2–10 cm, slender, purplish, usually with one short cauline leaf; internodes smooth or slightly scabrid below panicle. Panicle (1)–2–4.5–(7) cm, open; rachis slender, finely, sparsely scabrid, branches few, filiform, finely scabrid, tipped by 1–2 relatively large, ovate spikelets. Spikelets 3–4.5 mm, 3–5-flowered, purplish green. Glumes subequal, 1.5–2 mm, with wide hyaline margins, scabrid on midnerve; lower 1–3-nerved, ovate-elliptic, acute, upper 3-nerved, ovate, obtuse, often scabrid on lateral nerves and on internerves near tip and margin. Lemma 2–2.5 mm, 5–7-nerved, ovate, obtuse, minutely hairy in lower ½, scabrid above with midnerve closely distinctly scabrid; margins hyaline, very wide. Palea 1.5–2 mm, keels scabrid, interkeel with minute hairs and flanks with a few hairs. Callus with a few wispy hairs. Rachilla c. 0.5 mm, glabrous. Lodicules c. 0.2 mm. Anthers 0.3–0.6 mm. Gynoecium: ovary 0.5 mm; stigma-styles c. 1 mm. Caryopsis c. 1–1.5 × 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.