Species

Stenostachys enysii

Etymology

enysii: Named in honour of John Davies Enys (1837-1912), a Cornish geologist, biologist and farmer, who owned Castle Hill Station in Canterbury from 1867 to 1891.

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

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 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Not Threatened

Qualifiers

2012 - DP, Sp

Authority

Stenostachys enysii (Kirk) Barkworth et S.W.L.Jacobs

Family

Poaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

AGRARI

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

Agropyron enysii Kirk, Elymus enysii (Kirk) Á.Löve et Connor, Asprella aristata Petrie, Agropyron aristatum Cheeseman; Australopyrum enysii (Kirk) Connor

Distribution

Endemic. South Island only Nelson, then east of the main divide from Marlborough to Canterbury

Habitat

Montane, subalpine to alpine (up to 1800 m a.s.l.), usually in shaded sites such as in and around boulders under rock overhangs, or in low scrub. Also in flushes within tussock grassland

Features

Tufted, bronze-coloured, flat-leaved grass. Culm slender, drooping, inflorescence often hidden in foliage. Leaf sheath 60-80 mm, covered in long hairs, these retrorse, erect or pubescent. Ligule 0.5-0.75 mm. Leaf-blade 200 x 2-4 mm, flat, soft, upper surface densely retrorse hairy or glabrous, undersides antrorsely prickle-toothed, margin prickle-toothed. Culm 250-800 mm. Inflorescence 50-130 mm, with 10-18 compact spikelets. Spikelets 10-16 mm, shining. Glumes abut equal, narrow 6-9 mm, 1-3-nerved, scabrid, becoming awn-like, margin prickle-toothed. Lemma 7-10 mm, > palea, glaucous, apex bifid, awn 1-3.5 mm, indented at base. Palea 6-9 mm, apex bifid. Rachilla 1-2 mm flared near apex. Callus 0.25 mm blunt, surrounded by minute hairs. Description adapted from Edgar & Connor (2000).

Similar Taxa

Well marked from other New Zealand wheat grasses, and distinguished from these by the small, close set, few-flowered , glossy spikelets, and bifid palea and lemma apices. Rare, sterile hybrids (Elymus xwallii) are formed between it and Anthosachne solandri.

Flowering

No information available

Fruiting

No information available

Propagation Technique

Easy from fresh seed and division of whole plants. Dislikes humid climates and can be tricky to flower at low altitudes.

Threats

Not Theatened. However old herbarium specimens suggest that it was once more widespread at lower altitudes, and once grew in more open sites, places which are now dominated by exotic grasses and weeds.

Chromosome No.

2n = 28

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

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

Attribution

Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange May 2004. Aadapted from Edgar & Connor (2000).

References and further reading

Barkworth, M.E.; Jacobs, S.W.L. 2011: The Triticeae (Gramineae) in Australasia. Telopea 13: 37-56.

Edgar, E.; Connor, H.E. 2000: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. V. Lincoln, Manaaki Whenua Press.

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