Flora of New Zealand Series

≡H. fraseri var. recurvata Hack. in Cheeseman, Man. N.Z. Fl. 856  (1906)

≡H. alpina var. recurvata (Hack.) Zotov, T.R.S.N.Z. 73: 235 (1943); 

Holotype: AK 1330! D. Petrie Ruahine Range, 4000-5000 ft, Jan. 1889 (No 1039 to Hackel); duplicate WELT 76772.

Robust, lax tufts, ± rhizomatous. Leaf-sheath glabrous, ± striate, mostly deep purple. Ligule c. 1 mm. Collar thick, glabrous, recurved. Leaf-blade 7-15 cm × 3-6 mm, tapering, glabrous to ± scabrid on both surfaces, adaxially shallowly ribbed; margins prickle-toothed. Culm 20-40 cm, internodes glabrous, ridged. Panicle 8-16 cm, very lax, spreading; branches glabrous, 1-2 at each node, slender, naked below, spikelets few towards tips; pedicels 1-5 mm, ± scabrid to villous below spikelet. Glumes obovate, subacute to obtuse, glabrous, often purplish with wide hyaline margins, 3-nerved; upper glume 4-6 mm. Florets > lower glume, brown, uppermost somewhat lighter, ± shining. ♂ florets: lemma 4-5.5 mm, oblong, lobes c. 0.5 mm, long villous, rounded, finely scabrid, margins long-ciliate; awns unequal, rather stout, awn of lower floret 1.5-3 mm, scarcely twisted or bent, awn of second floret 4-6 mm, column 2-3.5 mm, twisted below geniculate arista 2-3 mm, insertion 2-3.5 mm above base; palea 4-4.5 mm, keels hairy to base finely pubescent above; lodicules c. 1 mm, ± ovate, acute, irregularly 1-2-lobed often ciliate; callus hairs sparse to 1 mm; anthers 2.0-2.5 mm. ⚥ floret: lemma 3.5-4.5 mm, ovate, glabrous below, finely pubescent above, usually long hairy at apex; awn rather stout, 2-3 mm, subapical; palea c. 3.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, keels 2, hairy throughout, minutely scabrid above; lodicules 1-1.2 mm; gynoecium: ovary 0.75-1.25 mm, stigma-styles 3.75-4.75 mm; anthers 1.4-1.8 mm; caryopsis 2 × 0.75 mm, embryo 0.3-0.4 mm, hilum 0.5-0.75 mm.

N.: mountains from East Cape southwards; S.: along main divide and to west, scattered to the east in Canterbury and Otago. Alpine.

Endemic.