Anthoxanthum fuscum
Common names
seabird holy grass
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Grasses
Detailed description
Robust or somewhat lax, aromatic, tufted grass often forming stout tussocks in or near seal haul outs or sea bird nesting grounds. Leaf-sheath glabrous, more or less striate. Ligule 3–5 mm, chartaceous, hairy, erose to variously lobed. Leaf-blade 300–750(–800) × 9–12 mm, tapering, lower surface glabrous, upper surface scabrid on the main (prominent) ribs; margins thick, toothed. Culm 0.6–1.5 m, internodes glabrous, ridged. Panicle 150–380 mm, erect; branches 1–2 at each node, glabrous, naked below, spikelets densely crowded above; pedicels scabrid or villous. Glumes subequal, membranous with wide scarious margins and tips, ovate-lanceolate, acute, galbrous, keeled; upper 7–9 mm, 3-nerved. Florets included by glumes, brown to dark brown at maturity. Male florets with lemma 6–8 mm, oblong-ovate, lobes 1–1.25 mm, erose and scarious-tipped, sparsely finely scabrid, long hairs at base, margins sparsely long-ciliate; awns 3–7 mm, slender, straight or slightly curved, insertion 1-2 mm below apex; palea 5–6 mm, membranous, keels ciliate; lodicules 0.5–1 mm, ovate, acute, irregularly 1-2-lobed, glabrous; callus hairs to 1 mm; anthers 2.5–3.5 mm. Perfect florets with lemma 5 mm, narrow-ovate, glabrous, apex minutely hairy, mucro 0-0.5 mm; palea about equal to lemma in length, keel toothed to base, ovate-lanceolate; lodicules 0.5 mm, glabrous; anthers 1.5–2 mm; ovary 1 mm, stigma-styles 5–6 mm. Seed 2–2.5 × 0.75 mm. Spikelets sometimes vivaporous.
Similar taxa
Superficially similar to Anthoxanthum redolens and Anthoxanthum brunonis, species with which it may on occasion grow. It is distinguished from both (usually) by its much taller, robust tufted habit. In perfect flowers of this species the florets are distinctly awned, their lemmas are scarcely bearded, and the awns of the male florets are inserted near the lemma apex rather than near the base.
Distribution
Endemic. Kapiti Island, South Island (western and southern coasts from Westport), Stewart Island/Rakiura, Chatham Islands, Antipodes Islands and Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku.
Habitat
Coastal. Associated with seal haulouts, and seabird roosts and nesting areas. Mainly found on offshore islands. On the Chatham Islands it has been gathered well inland from peat lake margins.
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Not Threatened
Threats
A local endemic, sparsely distributed throughout its range. As a species of guano-rich habitats it is quite likely that it has undergone some past range contraction, and in the South Island this may even be continuing. Naturally Uncommon and Biologically Sparse.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Hierochloe fusca Zotov
Taxonomic notes
The distinction between this species , Anthoxanthum redolens and Anthoxanthum brunonis needs further study. The three have the same chromosome number and nrDNA ITS sequences and appear to intergrade. Kapiti Island plants in particular are vegetatively rather different from the robust tufted grass more typical of this species in the rest of its range. Nevertheless the late Dr H. E. Connor (pers. comm. 2006) has advised that the floral distinctions hold, and that in his revision of the genus he is likely to maintain all three species (see comments in de Lange & James 2024).
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November–January
Fruiting
December–April (–June)
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed and the division of whole plants. Prefers a damp, fertile soil in full sun.
Other information
Cultivation
Occasionally offered by specialist native plant nurseries
Etymology
fuscum: Brown tinged with grey or black
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
NVS code
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.
HIEFUS
Chromosome number
2n = 84
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Sparse
Regional conservation statuses
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Regional conservation status of indigenous vascular plants in Otago” Jarvie S et al. (2024) report.
Otago: 2024 | Regionally Data Deficient
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
de Lange P.J., James C.J. 2024. New combinations in Anthoxanthum (Poaceae) for Aotearoa / New Zealand taxa earlier placed in Hierochloe. Ukrainian Botanical Journal, 81(4): 259−262. https://doi.org/10.15407/ukrbotj81.04.259
Edgar E, Connor HE. 2000. Flora of New Zealand. Vol. V. Grasses. Christchurch, Manaaki Whenua Press. 650 p.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by Peter J. de Lange 30 August 2000. Description modified from Edgar and Connor (2000).
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Anthoxanthum fuscum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/anthoxanthum-fuscum/ (Date website was queried)