Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Gymnostichum gracile Hook.f., Fl. N.Z. 1: 312, t. 70 (1853)

≡Hystrix gracilis (Hook.f.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 2: 778 (1891)

≡Asprella gracilis (Hook.f.) Kirk, T.N.Z.I. 27: 353 in obs. (1895)

≡Cockaynea gracilis (Hook.f.) Zotov, T.R.S.N.Z. 73: 234 (1943) comb. illeg.; 

Lectotype: K! Colenso 1611 Patea Village (designated by Connor 1994 op. cit. p. 146).

=Stenostachys narduroides Turcz., Bull. Soc. Nat. Moscou 35: 331 (1862)

≡Elymus narduroides (Turcz.) Á.Löve et Connor, N.Z. J. Bot. 20: 184 (1982); 

Holotype: LE n.v., J. E. Home New Zealand.

=Agropyron subeglume P.Candargy, Archiv. Biol. Végét. pure appliquée 1: 64 (1901); 

Holotype: P n.v., Raoul 241 Akaroa, 1843.

Perennial stoloniferous grass forming open, wide and flat- leaved patches with narrow nodding inflorescences; often quite stout in forests. Leaf-sheath 5-15 cm, with long (0.5-1 mm) hairs irregularly retrorse or erect, occasionally few or glabrous. Auricles to 0.5 mm or minute, scarcely clasping. Ligule 0.3-1 mm, erose. Leaf-blade 10-20 cm × 1.5-2 mm, flat, thin, usually with hairs 0.5-1 mm or with sparse short prickle-teeth adaxially and glabrous abaxially; margins glabrous. Culm 70-100 cm, slender, nodes evident sometimes ± geniculate, internodes glabrous. Inflorescence slender, narrow, 10-20 cm, of 15-30 spikelets > internodes; internodes 2-5 mm but longer at base; rachis prolongation 2-6 mm. Spikelets to 10 mm, of 1-2-3 florets, on 1-1.5 mm stipes in the absence of glumes; rachilla prolongation 1.5-3 mm, conspicuously short stiff hairy. Glumes usually 0, sometimes 1 or 2 and awn-like, 0-2-3 mm, very occasionally 5-6 mm above, 1-nerved, prickle-toothed, « spikelets. Lemma 7-10 mm, prickle-teeth abundant, weakly keeled, infrequently bifid at apex, canaliculate above and tapering to awn 1.5-6 mm. Palea 5-7 mm, < lemma, apex usually produced but sometimes retuse; keels toothed and usually inrolled. Callus short, 0.5 mm, surrounded by abundant short stiff hairs; disarticulation ± oblique. Rachilla 1.5-2.5 mm, shortly prickle-toothed. Lodicules 0.75-1 mm. Anthers 1.5-2 mm, often retained on apex of caryopsis. Gynoecium: ovary 1.25-1.4 mm; stigma-styles 1.5-2 mm. Caryopsis 4-4.25 mm; embryo 1-1.2 mm. Chasmogamous and commonly cleistogamous. 2 n = 28.

N.: throughout except North Cape; infrequent or absent in central southern areas; S.: Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury; sparsely distributed from inland South Canterbury to Fiordland; St. Forests and shrublands, occasionally in grasslands; sea level to 1300 m.

Endemic.