Koeleria riguorum
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Grasses
Detailed description
Slender perennial grass 25–(36) cm tall with fine rhizomes. Leaves often reddish-purple with the erect, mature panicles well overtopping leaves. Leaf-sheath strongly ribbed, finely hairy between ribs, pale straw to purple-suffused. Ligule 0.6–1.1 mm, truncate to subacute, finely hairy. Leaf-blade 3.2–9.5–(17) cm × 0.3–1.2 mm, usually folded, rolled, or flat, linear filiform, hairless (rarely finely hairy), strongly ribbed, margin finely scabrid. Panicle 2–5–(7) × 0.3–1 cm, spike-like. Spikelets (3.6)–4.2–(6.5) mm, 2–(3)-flowered bright green, banded with purple and golden-brown. Glumes subequal, lanceolate to elliptic-ovate, acute or obtuse, lower 3.5–4 mm, 1–3-nerved, keel scabrid in upper ⅓; upper glume 4–4.2 mm 3–5–(7)-nerved. Seed c. 2 × 0.7 mm.
Similar taxa
Allied to K. novozelandica but differing from that species by the longer slender rhizomes, leaf-blades diverging at an angle of 30 degrees, reddish leaves and culms, and by the conspicuously purplish and golden-brown colour banding in the spikelets. It is also unusual in being the only indigenous Koeleria to prefer wetland habitats.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: South island (scattered sites from North-west Nelson to northern Canterbury). Probably more widespread than this as it is easily overlooked.
Habitat
An alpine to subalpine species of sedge-dominated wetlands.
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 | Data Deficient
Threats
Described in 1999. Koeleria riguorum is probably not threatened but there are very few recent (>1980) collections. Therefore until detailed surveys state otherwise it has been rated as Data Deficient simply as a precautionary measure.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
None
Taxonomic notes
New Zealand Koeleria might be better placed in Trisetum.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
No information available
Fruiting
No information available
Life cycle and dispersal
Florets are dispersed by wind and possibly attachment (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown by division but hard to maintain. Dislikes warm, humid climates. Should be easy from fresh seed.
Other information
Etymology
koeleria: Named after George Ludwig Koeler (1765-1807), 18th century German botanist. Author of a work on the grasses of Germany and France, Descriptio graminum in Gallia et Germania (1802).
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
Chromosome number
2n = 28
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: DP
2012 | Data Deficient
2009 | Data Deficient
2004 | Data Deficient
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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2009.06.001.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared 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): Koeleria riguorum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/koeleria-riguorum/ (Date website was queried)