Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Triticum solandri Steud., Syn. Pl. Glum. 1: 347 (1854)

≡T. squarrosum Hook.f., Lond. J. Bot. 3: 417 (1844) non Roth (1802); 

Lectotype: BM! J. Banks & D. Solander "in rupibus prope Totaranui" (specimens on left and right designated by Connor 1994 op. cit. p. 140).

=T. youngii Hook.f. Handbk N.Z. Fl. 343  (1864)

≡Agropyron youngii (Hook.f.) P.Candargy, Archiv. Biol. Végét. pure appliquée 1: 39 (1901); 

Holotype: K! Haast grassy flats, sources of the Waitaki.

Open glaucous grass, prostrate to decumbent to ascending, erect, stoloniferous or tufted, intra- and extravaginally branching, rooting and shooting at nodes, leaf-blades flat to inrolled. Leaf-sheath to 5 cm, keeled, pubescent especially when young, hairy or glabrous, becoming fibrous. Ligule to 0.5 mm, truncate. Collar thickened, recurved, hairs (0.75 mm) dense or short and sparse; occasionally with long hairs on margin. Auricles 1-1.5 mm, clasping, hairs 1-1.5 mm. Leaf-blade 21 cm × 2-4 mm, glaucous, flat or folded or inrolling, abaxially ribbed, occasionally with some long retrorse hairs, adaxially short hairy or prickled on ribs, some long hairs forming a weft at base becoming short above; margin involute, glabrous or faintly toothed. Culm 40-100 cm, prostrate, erect or ascending, internodes glabrous. Inflorescence 8-20 cm, of 3-15 spikelets. Spikelets 25-80 mm, of 4-10 florets. Glumes unequal, keeled, margins membranous, sometimes produced to a point or becoming awned, prickle-toothed above, lower 3-11 mm, 3-nerved, upper 5-12 mm, 3-5-nerved. Lemma with central nerve prominent and extending into recurved awn 35-75 mm, smooth except for a few prickle-teeth on nerves below awn and along margins, sometimes toothed at apex. Palea 9.5-12 mm, apex pointed and bifid. Rachilla 1.5-3 mm, shortly stiff hairy. Callus 0.75 mm, hairs just reaching lemma. Lodicules 1.25-1.5 mm, ligulate. Anthers 3-5 mm. Gynoecium: ovary 1.5 mm; stigma-styles 2.5-3 mm. Caryopsis to 6.5 mm; embryo 1.5 mm. 2 n = 42.

N.; S.: throughout. Rocky sites on cliffs on coast, tussock grasslands inland, and colonising riverbeds, screes, and moraines; sea level to 1500 m.

Endemic.