Stenostachys laevis
Common names
grassland wheatgrass
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Grasses
Detailed description
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 Anthosachne spp. 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 Anthosachne. Inrolled leaves of coastal plants become flat in cultivation.
Distribution
Endemic. North Island; only known from Reporoa Bog (North West Ruahine Range). South Island; throughout except Nelson, and Westland. Stewart Island/Rakiura.
Habitat
Small grass of tussock grasslands, grey scrub, shaded cliff faces, and lake sides. Often in flushes. Occasionally coastal. From sea level to 1300 m a.s.l.
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
Threats
Stenostachys laevis faces no apparent threats but it is certainly uncommon, and easily overlooked. Because of this, there are few recent >1980 records.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Asprella laevis Petrie, Cockaynea laevis (Petrie) Zotov, Hystrix laevis (Petrie) Allan, Elymus laevis (Petrie) Á.Löve et Connor
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
Yes
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
January–March
Fruiting
March–May
Propagation technique
Very easy from rooted pieces, divisions of whole plants and from fresh seed. Grows best in light shade.
Other information
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.
STELAE
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, Sp
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Data Deficient
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 | Threatened – Regionally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: CI, DPR, DPS, DPT, NStr, RR, Sp, TL
Referencing and citations
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)