Koeleria tenella
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Grasses
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: South Island (North-west Nelson and Marlborough, then from Arthur’s Pass and Banks Peninsula south and west to Fiordland).
Habitat
Usually in stony ground, on moraines, scree river beds, slip scars, on marble, limestone and ultramafic rocks, often in tussock grassland, fellfield and herbfield. Sometimes in seepages and swampy ground.
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
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Trisetum antarcticum subsp. tenellum Petrie, T. antarcticum var. tenellum (Petrie) Cheeseman; Trisetum tenellum (Petrie) A.W.Hill
Taxonomic notes
A rather variable species, with two cytotypes. Further study into the morphological variablity and distribution of these cytotypes is needed.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh material and division of whole plants. Does best in a shady site in free draining, lime-enriched soil or within a pot.
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).
tenella: Delicate
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.
TRITEN
Chromosome number
2n = 28, 56
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
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Koeleria tenella Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/koeleria-tenella/ (Date website was queried)