Stenostachys laevis
Common name
Grassland wheatgrass
Synonyms
Asprella laevis Petrie, Cockaynea laevis (Petrie) Zotov, Hystrix laevis (Petrie) Allan, Elymus laevis (Petrie) Á.Löve et Connor
Family
Poaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
Yes
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.
STELAE
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). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By 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.
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Data Deficient
Distribution
Endemic. North Island; only known from Reporoa Bog (North West Ruahine Range). South Island; throughout except Nelson, and Westland. Stewart Island.
Habitat
Small grass of tussock grasslands, grey scrub, shaded cliff faces, and lake sides. Often in flushes. Occasionally coastal. From sea level to 1300m altitude.
Features
Perennial grass, forming loose patches, these rooting and shooting freely at nodes. Inflorescences narrow, nodding, on long slender stems (culms). Leaf-sheath 5-10 cm, either covered in curved hairs or hairless. Ligule 0.5-1 mm, prominent, tips lacerated. Leaf-blade 15-25 cm × 1.5-2 mm, flat (often inrolled in coastal plants), thin, with a prominent midrib, hairless or finely hairy. Culms 50-75 cm, nodes inconspicuous, internodes hairless, slender. Inflorescence narrow, slender, 8-15 cm, of 10-25 spikelets > internodes. Spikelets 8-12 mm, of 1-2 florets. Glumes 2, awn-like, 2-6 mm, equal, 1-nerved. Lemma 6.5-8 mm, smooth except for prickle-teeth towards bifid tip, apex either spine-tipped (mucronate) or extended as a short, toothed, awn 0.5-1 mm. Anthers 1.6-2.6 mm. Seed 4 mm.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from S. deceptorix Connor and S. gracilis (Hook.f.) Connor by the lemma (lower set of bracts which enclose the flower, grass equivalent of petals) apex possessing between the lateral teeth either a spine-tip (mucronate) or short awned. Stenostachys grasses are perhaps most similar to Australopyrum enysii and distinguished from that species and also Elymus because the glumes are either absent or reduced and awn-like, and by the spikelets which are positioned edgewise along the inflorescence stem (rachis) rather than side-on as in Elymus. Inrolled leaves of coastal plants become flat in cultivation.
Flowering
January to March
Fruiting
March to May
Propagation technique
Very easy from rooted pieces, divisions of whole plants and from fresh seed. Grows best in light shade.
Threats
Stenostachys laevis is probably not threatened but it is certainly uncommon, and easily overlooked. Because of this, there are few recent >1980 records.
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): Stenostachys laevis Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/stenostachys-laevis/ (Date website was queried)