Stenostachys enysii
Synonyms
Agropyron enysii Kirk, Elymus enysii (Kirk) Á.Löve et Connor, Asprella aristata Petrie, Agropyron aristatum Cheeseman; Australopyrum enysii (Kirk) Connor
Family
Poaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Grasses
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.
AGRARI
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, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. South Island only Nelson, then east of the main divide from Marlborough to Canterbury.
Habitat
Montane, subalpine to alpine (up to 1800 m a.s.l.), usually in shaded sites such as in and around boulders under rock overhangs, or in low scrub. Also in flushes within tussock grassland.
Detailed description
Tufted, bronze-coloured, flat-leaved grass. Culm slender, drooping, inflorescence often hidden in foliage. Leaf-sheath 60–80 mm, covered in long hairs, these retrorse, erect or pubescent. Ligule 0.5–0.75 mm. Leaf-blade 200 × 2–4 mm, flat, soft, upper surface densely retrorse hairy or glabrous, undersides antrorsely prickle-toothed, margin prickle-toothed. Culm 250–800 mm. Inflorescence 50–130 mm, with 10–18 compact spikelets. Spikelets 10–16 mm, shining. Glumes abut equal, narrow 6–9 mm, 1–3-nerved, scabrid, becoming awn-like, margin prickle-toothed. Lemma 7–10 mm, > palea, glaucous, apex bifid, awn 1–3.5 mm, indented at base. Palea 6–9 mm, apex bifid. Rachilla 1–2 mm flared near apex. Callus 0.25 mm, blunt, surrounded by minute hairs. Description adapted from Edgar & Connor (2000).
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
Similar taxa
Well marked from other New Zealand wheat grasses, and distinguished from these by the small, close set, few-flowered , glossy spikelets, and bifid palea and lemma apices. Rare, sterile hybrids (Elymus ×wallii) are formed between it and Anthosachne solandri.
Flowering
No information available
Fruiting
No information available
Life cycle
Florets are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed and division of whole plants. Dislikes humid climates and can be tricky to flower at low altitudes.
Threats
Not Theatened. However old herbarium specimens suggest that it was once more widespread at lower elevations, and once grew in more open sites, places which are now dominated by exotic grasses and weeds.
Etymology
enysii: Named in honour of John Davies Enys (1837-1912), a Cornish geologist, biologist and farmer, who owned Castle Hill Station in Canterbury from 1867 to 1891.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange May 2004. Aadapted from Edgar & Connor (2000).
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
References and further reading
Barkworth ME, Jacobs SWL. 2011: The Triticeae (Gramineae) in Australasia. Telopea 13: 37–56.
Edgar E, Connor HE. 2000. Flora of New Zealand. Vol. V. Grasses. Manaaki Whenua Press, Christchurch, NZ. 650 p.
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.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Stenostachys enysii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/stenostachys-enysii/ (Date website was queried)