Species

Agrostis muscosa

Etymology

Agrostis: Greek name for a kind of grass
muscosa: moss-like

Common Name(s)

pincushion grass

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Agrostis muscosa Kirk

Family

Poaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

AGRMUS

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Grasses

Synonyms

Agrostis aemula subsp. beta spathacea Berggr., A. parviflora var. perpusilla Hookf., A. canina var. gamma

Distribution

Endemic. North Island from eastern Bay of Plenty south to the South Wellington coastline. South Island throughout except Westland. Stewart island

Habitat

lowland in coastal turf and gravel, otherwise montane, subalpine to alpine on stone pavements, within tussock grassland, on tarn and lake margins and in fell field

Flower Colours

Yellow

Propagation Technique

Easy from fresh seed and rooted pieces. Does very well in pots, and can be grown in most situations. Does not like humidity

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 42

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Florets are dispersed by wind and water (Thorsen et al., 2009).

 

  

References and further reading

Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 2009 Vol. 11 No. 4 pp. 285-309

This page last updated on 10 May 2014