Anthoxanthum redolens
Common names
holy grass, kāretu
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Grasses
Simplified description
Large scented grass with broad leaves.
Detailed description
Robust, lax tufts. Leaf-sheath glabrous, ± striate, lower ± purplish. Ligule 2–3 mm, chartaceous, ± irregularly rounded. Leaf-blade to 70 cm × 8–12 mm, abaxially ± glabrous, adaxially scabrid on prominent ribs; margins glabrous or prickle-toothed. Culm to 130 cm, internodes glabrous. Panicle 20–30 cm, erect, nodding above, and lower branches also nodding; branches binate at nodes, very slender, naked for ½ to ¾ length, spikelets crowded distally; pedicels 0.5–2 mm, villous. Glumes unequal, membranous, scarious, glabrous, ovate, acute, keeled, 3-nerved; lower 6–7 mm, mostly ≥ lower floret, upper 7–8 mm, > second floret. Florets pale straw-coloured. ♂ florets: lemma 5–6.5 mm, oblong-ovate, lobes c. 1 mm, chartaceous with scarious tips, long hairs on keel below, minutely scabrid above, margins ciliate with soft, silvery hairs; awns 3.5–6 mm, slender, ± straight, insertion 3–4 mm above base; palea 4–5.5 mm, membranous, irregularly finely scabrid on keels; lodicules 1–1.6 mm, ± ovate, lobed, acute, glabrous; callus hairs to 1.25 mm; anthers 2–3 mm. ☿ floret: lemma 4.5–6 mm, narrow-ovate, glabrous, apex minutely hairy, muticous to subapically mucronate 0.25–0.5 mm; palea 4–5.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, keel 1–(2) finely irregularly ciliate; lodicules 0.75–1 mm, ovate-oblong, abruptly tapering, often lateral lobed, glabrous; anthers 1–1.5 mm; gynoecium: ovary c. 1 mm, stigma-styles 4–5 mm; caryopsis c. 2 mm, embryo 0.5 mm, hilum 0.75 mm.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from other native members of the genus by the clearly awned florets, which on the males florets are inserted near lemma base and the awns of upper male floret being straight.
Can be superficially silimar to the extotic tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) but can be readily seperated by the scented leaves and obviously awned florets.
Distribution
Indigenous. Throughout North (uncommon north of Rotorua), South and Chatham Islands. Also on the Three Kings Islands. Indigenous to Australia, New Guinea and South America.
Habitat
In tussock grassland.
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 | Qualifiers: SO
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Holcus redolens Vahl, Avena redolens (Vahl) Pers., Anthoxanthum redolens (Vahl) D.Royen, Hierochloe antarctica var. redolens (Vahl) Raspail, Holcus redolens R.Br., Torresia redolens Roem. et Schult., Hierachloe banksiana Endl., Hierochloe redolens (Vahl) Roem. et Schult.
Taxonomic notes
Hierochloe brunonis Hook.f. and H. fusca Zotov are probably better regarded as part of A. redolens.
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Life cycle and dispersal
Florets are water and wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FAC: Facultative
Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte (non-wetlands).
Other information
Etymology
anthoxanthum: From the Greek 'anthos' meaning flower and 'xanthum'= yellow, referring to the colour of the panicles.
redolens: Sweet-scented
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.
HIERED
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
2004 | Not Threatened
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 Not Threatened
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Edgar E, Connor HE. 2000. Flora of New Zealand. Vol. V. Grasses. Christchurch, Manaaki Whenua Press. 650 p.
Ford M. 2023. The return of Holy Grass, a century unrecorded in the North. Trilepidea 228: 10–12.
Johnson AT, Smith HA. 1986. Plant Names Simplified: Their pronunciation, derivation and meaning. Landsman Bookshop Ltd, Buckenhill, UK.
Thorsen MJ, Dickinson KJM, Seddon PJ. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285–309.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (21 April 2021). Habitat, Features and similar taxa sections modified from Edgar & 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: Ford, M. (Year at time of access): Anthoxanthum redolens Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/anthoxanthum-redolens/ (Date website was queried)