Flora of New Zealand Series

≡M. avenacea var. carsei (Cheeseman) Zotov, T.R.S.N.Z. 73: 235 (1943); 

Lectotype: AK 1308! H. Carse forests at Kaiaka, Mangonui County, Dec 1913 (designated by Edgar and Connor 1998 op. cit. p. 578).

Rhizomatous, perennial with fine elongate stem internodes with tufts of narrow leaves from which a long slender shortly-branched inflorescence emerges. Rhizome short; branching extravaginal; cataphylls 1-2 cm, bases swollen, shining, keeled, acute. Internodes elongate, slender, shining glabrous, stramineous to brown. Leaf-sheath glabrous, keel stout, margin membranous. Ligule 0.75-1 mm, broadly triangular. Auricles 2, margin hairs 1.5-2-2.5 mm. Leaf-blade 8-15-25 cm × 4-5-6 mm wide, bright green, keel stout; margins sharp, coarsely prickled in close-set columns, becoming smooth below except for some short, stiff hairs near ligule. Culm to 60 cm, laterally compressed, internodes longitudinally grooved, glabrous. Panicle 20-25-35 cm, narrow, slender, nodes ± close, branches ± appressed, erect, filiform, ≥ internodes; nodes with short branches of close-set spikelets and longer branches naked below; rachis longitudinally grooved, rachis, branches and pedicels with fine prickles. Spikelets 15-23 mm, numerous, solitary, on short or long pedicels. Glumes unequal, covering the base of spikelet, margins ciliate; lower 0.2-0.6 mm, 1-nerved, < callus hairs, upper 0.75-1.0-1.7 mm, 3-nerved, triangular acute or irregularly lobed or erose, > callus hairs. Lower Ø lemma 5-10-16 mm, 3-5-nerved, prickles on keel and above smooth elsewhere, adaxially hairy above, awn ½ lemma length, sometimes ≤ ⚥ lemma; callus hairs to 0.5 mm; upper Ø lemma 14-20-25 mm, 3-5-nerved, densely prickle-toothed on keel and above, smooth elsewhere, adaxially hairy above, awn ½ lemma length; callus hairs to 1.5 mm. ⚥ lemma 5-6-10 mm, 3-5-nerved, awn 0 or short (0.1-0.5 mm) between small lobes, margins ciliate above, apex deeply bifid (0.4-0.8 mm) and ciliate. Palea 3-3.5-4.5 mm, membranous, hyaline, 1-nerved, apex ciliate; often enclosed by upper Ø lemma. Lodicules 2, 0.8-1.0-1.5 mm, > ovary, lobed, several nerves. Stamens 2; anthers 1.0-1.7-2.2 mm, yellow. Gynoecium: ovary 0.65-0.75 mm; stigma-styles 1.0-1.3-2.2 mm, naked below. Caryopsis 3-3.5-4 mm; embryo 0.5-0.6 mm. 2 n = 48.

N.: Northland, south of Muriwhenua peninsula to Waipoua forest and Trounson Park (35 00' - 35 40' S). Forest floor to 400 m.

Endemic.