The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Stenostachys deceptorix

Common Name(s)

None known

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 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - RR, Sp
2009 - DP

Authority

Stenostachys deceptorix Connor

Family

Poaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Grasses

Synonyms

None (first described in 1994)

Distribution

Endemic. South Island, North-West Nelson to Lake Tennyson

Habitat

A monatne species that is usually found in tussock grassland bordering rivers but it is also known from the sides of sinkholes and other similar karst phenomena in the limestone and marble country of north-west Nelson

Features

Stout perennial, stoloniferous grass with somewhat flaccid, open or compact shoots of flat leaves, and a distinctly pendulous, narrow inflorescence. Leaf-sheath 50-100 mm, keel, frequently densely pubescent with short and long hairs or glabrous; becoming fibrous. Auricles 0.5-0.7 mm, scarcely clasping, occasionally bearing 1-2 long hairs. Ligule 0.3-0.5 mm, very faintly erose. Leaf-blade 100-300 x 1-2.5 mm, flat, thin, abundantly covered with fine prickle-teeth on ribs, occasionally with hairs 0.5 mm long between ribs of lower surfaces and sometimes near ligule; margin prickle-toothed. Culm stout 0.4-1.9 m, internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes more or less geniculate. Inflorescence slender, pendulous, 100-200 mm long, bearing 20-30 spikelets > internodes in length; rachis prolongation 2-6 mm. Spikelets up to 15 mm, of 1-3 florets, lustrous; 3.0-3.5 mm. Glumes 2, 5-10 mm long, equal, initially narrow canaliculate becoming awn-like, prickle-toothed, closely appressed to floret above, < spikelet. Lemma 8-10 mm long, smooth except for prickle-teeth below awn and near callus, sometimes pruinose, rarely bifid at apex; scabrid awn 5.0-6.5 mm. Palea 8-10 mm, greater than or equal to lemma; apex prolonged or retuse, ciliate; keels toothed. Callus short, surrounded by short stiff hairs; disarticulation flat. Rachilla 1.8-2.0 mm, bearing abundant stiff hairs. Lodicules 0.7-0.8 mm long. Anthers 3.0-3.5 mm long. Ovary 0.75-1.00 mm; stigma-styles to 2.5 mm. Seed 5.0-5.5 mm long. Flowers open or cleistogamous

Similar Taxa

Close to S. laevis (Petrie) Connor from which it is distinguished by the long awned rather than mucronate or shortly awned lemma which is only rarely rather than normally laterally toothed at the apex, and by the prolonged or retuse rather than bifid palea apex

Flowering

November - January

Fruiting

December - May

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and dvision of whole plants. An attractive and somewhat unusual grass that does well in a sunny, well drained site. Its does not like humidity.

Threats

Not Threatened. Still rather poorly known but appears to be locally common in parts of north-west Nelson. It may be bettered rated Sparse because it has been found near Lake Tennyson as well.

Chromosome No.

2n = 28

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

Yes

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 6 Dec 2014