Stenostachys deceptorix
Synonyms
None (first described in 1994)
Family
Poaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
Yes
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Grasses
Chromosome number
2n = 28
Current conservation status
The conservation 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.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. 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. 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, RR, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, North-West Nelson to Lake Tennyson
Habitat
.A monatne species that is usually found in tussock grassland bordering rivers but it is also known from the sides of sinkholes and other similar karst phenomena in the limestone and marble country of north-west Nelson
Detailed description
Stout perennial, stoloniferous grass with somewhat flaccid, open or compact shoots of flat leaves, and a distinctly pendulous, narrow inflorescence. Leaf-sheath 50–100 mm, keel, frequently densely pubescent with short and long hairs or glabrous; becoming fibrous. Auricles 0.5–0.7 mm, scarcely clasping, occasionally bearing 1–2 long hairs. Ligule 0.3–0.5 mm, very faintly erose. Leaf-blade 100–300 × 1–2.5 mm, flat, thin, abundantly covered with fine prickle-teeth on ribs, occasionally with hairs 0.5 mm long between ribs of lower surfaces and sometimes near ligule; margin prickle-toothed. Culm stout 0.4–1.9 m, internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes more or less geniculate. Inflorescence slender, pendulous, 100–200 mm long, bearing 20–30 spikelets > internodes in length; rachis prolongation 2–6 mm. Spikelets up to 15 mm, of 1–3 florets, lustrous; 3.0–3.5 mm. Glumes 2, 5–10 mm long, equal, initially narrow canaliculate becoming awn-like, prickle-toothed, closely appressed to floret above, < spikelet. Lemma 8–10 mm long, smooth except for prickle-teeth below awn and near callus, sometimes pruinose, rarely bifid at apex; scabrid awn 5.0–6.5 mm. Palea 8–10 mm, greater than or equal to lemma; apex prolonged or retuse, ciliate; keels toothed. Callus short, surrounded by short stiff hairs; disarticulation flat. Rachilla 1.8–2.0 mm, bearing abundant stiff hairs. Lodicules 0.7–0.8 mm long. Anthers 3.0–3.5 mm long. Ovary 0.75–1.00 mm; stigma-styles to 2.5 mm. Seed 5.0–5.5 mm long. Flowers open or cleistogamous.
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
Similar taxa
Close to S. laevis (Petrie) Connor from which it is distinguished by the long awned rather than mucronate or shortly awned lemma which is only rarely rather than normally laterally toothed at the apex, and by the prolonged or retuse rather than bifid palea apex.
Flowering
November–January
Fruiting
December–May
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and dvision of whole plants. An attractive and somewhat unusual grass that does well in a sunny, well drained site. Its does not like humidity.
Threats
Not Threatened. Still rather poorly known but appears to be locally common in parts of north-west Nelson. It may be bettered rated Sparse because it has been found near Lake Tennyson as well.
Attribution
Description modified from Edgar and Connor (2000).
References and further reading
Edgar E, Connor HE. 2000. Flora of New Zealand. Vol. V. Grasses. Manaaki Whenua Press, Christchurch, NZ. 650 p.