Deschampsia pusilla
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Grasses
Detailed description
Compact, leafy grass, 2–4.5(–10) cm tall. Leaf-sheath wider than leaf-blade, light-brownish grey, with few inconspicuous veins. Ligule (1.5–)2(–3.5) mm, tapered to an acute tip. Leaves 5.5–17 × 0.3–0.5 mm long, in-rolled, narrow smooth with finely toothed leaf margins, apex rounded (subobtuse). Culm (stem) 1.2–2.5(–4) cm, branched at base, often buried amongst leaves. Panicle (flowering spike) (5–)8–5(–18) mm, compact, branches few, these minutely scabrid (with small teeth). Spikelets 2.2–3 mm, greenish, shinning. Glumes more or less equal in length and size of spikelets, keels sparsely scabrid above, tip subacute, acute, almost spine-tipped (mucronate), lower 1-nerved, upper 3-nerved. Lemma 1.5–2.2 mm, faintly 5-nerved, oblong, 4–5-toothed with short terminal spine (mucro) 0.3–0.5 mm. Palea less than or equal to lemma, apex deeply cleft, keels finely scabrid. Anthers (0.3–)0.5(–0.6) mm. Seed c. 1 × 0.4 mm.
Similar taxa
Deschampsia pusilla has no close relatives, and is unlikely to be confused with other associated grasses in the habitats it occupies.
Distribution
Endemic. It has been recorded only from the Central Otago mountains.
Habitat
A species of high alpine habitats in fell field, around tarns and in seepages. Often associated with small cushion plants.
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
Threats
Because of its small size, and restriction to high alpine situations in remote parts of Central Otago, this species is only known from a small number of collections. It may be common in these habitats but until comprehensive surveys are undertaken the exact status remains uncertain.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
None
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
No information available
Fruiting
No information available
Life cycle and dispersal
Florets are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
No information available.
Other information
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Etymology
deschampsia: After Deschamps
pusilla: Small
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.
DESPUS
Chromosome number
2n = 26
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Data Deficient
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 | Qualifiers: TL
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
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 for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange for NZPCN (1 June 2013)
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Deschampsia pusilla Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/deschampsia-pusilla/ (Date website was queried)