Connorochloa tenuis
Common name
Prostrate bluegrass
Synonyms
Agropyron scabrum var. tenue Buchanan, A. tenue (Buchanan) Connor; Elymus tenuis (Buchanan) Á.Löve et Connor
Family
Poaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
Yes
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Grasses
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.
CONTEN
Chromosome number
2n = 56
Current conservation status
The threat classification status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2018 | Data Deficient
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Data Deficient
2012 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: DP
2009 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Data Deficient
Distribution
Endemic. In the North Island known from the Volcanic Plateau and Ruahine Range. In the South Island known from North-West Nelson, Marlborough and east of main divide.
Habitat
A species of open short tussock (Festuca) dominated grassland from sea-level to 900 m.
Features
Prostrate, bronze-leaved grass. Upper culm (stem) internode greatly elongating after flowering and trailing along ground. Leaf-sheath 5-7 cm, hairless. Ligule 0.25-0.3 mm, very finely hairy. Leaf-blade 10-15 cm × 2 mm, bronzed, flat, sometimes rolled, smooth. hairless, ribbed, undersides with small prickle-teeth. Culm to 2 m or more, slender, trailing along ground, upper internode elongating after flowering, sometimes up to 1.5 m. Inflorescence wheat-like 10-15 cm, containing up to 15 spikelets. Awn 15-35 mm. Seed 4.5-5 mm. Description adapted from Edgar & Connor (2000).
Similar taxa
Connorochloa tenuis can be distinguished from all other indigenous Elymoid grasses by the easily detached culm trailing the ground, by the uppermost internode greatly elongating following flowering, by the spikelets being appressed to the inflorescence stem, and by the anthers 2-3 mm long, coloured uniformly yellow. Connorochlora it is morphologically most similar to some species of Anthosachne, differing from them in being octoploid and its combination of basal leaves that are 1–1.5(-2.0) mm wide, upper glumes that have 1.3–6.5 mm long awns, and straight lemma awns (9-)15(–35) mm long. Connorochloa is a new, monotypic genus established by Barkworth et al. (2011).
Flowering
No information available
Flower colours
Yellow
Fruiting
No information available
Life cycle
Florets are dispersed by wind and attachment (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from divisions of whole plants and from fresh seed.
Threats
As large parts of its former range have become increasingly overwhelmed by introduced pasture grasses, observations suggest that Connorochloa has declined. However, there have been no serious attempts to quantify this decline making an accurate conservation assessment impractical. This species should probably be assessed as Data Deficient.
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange May 2004. Description adapted 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 11: 285-309
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Connorochloa tenuis Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/connorochloa-tenuis/ (Date website was queried)