Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Zotovia thomsonii (Petrie) Edgar & Connor (1998)
Synonymy:
  • Ehrharta thomsonii Petrie (1880)
  • Microlaena thomsonii (Petrie) Petrie in Chilton, Subantarctic Is. N. Z. 472 (1909)
  • Petriella thomsonii (Petrie) Zotov, Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 73: 236 (1943) nom. illeg.
 Description

Rhizomatous perennials, with culms branching freely intravaginally and forming light green, dense, low mats (1.5)–2–4–(8) cm high. Leaf-sheath smooth, usually cream, cross-veinlets few. Ligule almost a line. Leaf-blade 0.5–1.8 cm × 1.4–2–(3) mm, spreading, usually flat, margins incurved but sometimes more inrolled, lanceolate, glabrous, cream cross-veinlets visible, only slightly tapering to short, acute tip, margins minutely scabrid. Culm erect, only slightly projecting beyond leaves at flowering but later elongating to c. 8 cm. Inflorescence an erect raceme 0.5–1–(1.5) cm, of (2)–4–7 spikelets, occasionally reduced to a single spikelet. Spikelets (3.5)–4.5–6 mm, on short, smooth pedicels appressed to rachis. Glumes obtuse, margins smooth, rarely ciliate above; lower 1–1.5 mm, upper 1.2–2 mm. Ø lemmas abaxially smooth, sometimes cross-veinlets visible, adaxially minutely pubescent above, awn scabrid, 1–1.5 mm; callus hairs dense, c. 1 mm; lower Ø lemma 3–4.5 mm; upper Ø lemma 3.5–5.5 mm. ☿ lemma 2.3–5 mm, acute or obliquely truncate, occasionally mucronate, smooth, keel sometimes minutely scabrid near tip. Palea 2.5–3.5 mm, keel scabrid near base. Rachilla prolongation to 0.5 mm, or reduced to a minute knob. Lodicules c. 0.8–1 mm, ± elliptic to cuneate, erose. Anthers 1–1.7 mm. Gynoecium: ovary c. 0.8 mm; stigma-styles 1–1.3 mm. Caryopsis 2–2.5 ×c. 0.7 mm. 2n=c. 48.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Chilton, C. (ed.) 1909: The subantarctic islands of New Zealand : reports on the geo-physics, geology, zoology, and botany of the islands lying to the south of New Zealand, based mainly on observations and collections made during an expedition in the government steamer "Hinemoa" (Captain J. Bollons) in November, 1907. Vol. 2. Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, Government Printer, Christchurch.
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.; Connor, H. E. 1998: Zotovia and Microlaena: New Zealand Ehrhartoid Gramineae. New Zealand Journal of Botany 36: 565–586.
Edgar, E.; Connor, H.E. 2010: Flora of New Zealand Volume V Grasses. Edition 2. Manaaki Whenua Press.
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.