Koeleria spicata
Common names
spike trisetum
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Grasses
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: South Island where it grows in high alpine situations mainly east of the divide, Chatham Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku.
Habitat
The mainland form grows in subalpine to alpine vegetation, typically in open rocky ground in fell field, herbfield, scree, rock outcrops, cliff faces or tussock grassland. Often found growing with Koeleria cheesemanii (Hack.) Petrie. The Chatham Island variant grows in dune swales. The subantarctic variant grows on peat and in rock crevices at sea level.
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
Aira spicata L., A. subspicata L., Trisetum subspicata (L.) P. Beauv.; Trisetum spicatum (L.) K.Richt.
Taxonomic notes
New Zealand Koeleria spicatum is very variable. Plants from the subantarctic islands are very distinct from mainland New Zealand plants, as are those from the Chatham Islands. Further study into this variation is needed.
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed and division of whole plants. Dislikes humidity, and does best in free draining, damp soils within a cool, airy site. Excellent in an alpine house. The typical form of this species will not flower at lower altitudes unless plants are subjected to 1–2 months cold treatment.
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
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.
TRISPI
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 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
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