Poa novae-zelandiae Hack.
≡P. novae-zelandiae Hack. var. novae-zelandiae (autonym Hackel 1903 op. cit. p. 382)
≡P. novae-zelandiae Hack.forma novae-zelandiae (autonym Hackel 1903 op. cit. p. 382);
Lectotype: W 7886! T. F. C[heeseman] Arthurs Pass, Canterbury Alps, alt. 3000 ft (No 1339 to Hackel) (designated by Edgar 1986 op. cit. p. 435).
=P. foliosa var. β Hook.f. Handbk N.Z. Fl. 338 (1864);
Lectotype: K! Dr Lyall Milford Sound (designated by Edgar 1986 op. cit. p. 435).
=P. foliosa var. γ Buchanan Indig. Grasses N.Z. t. 43B (1880);
Lectotype: WELT 59594c (Buchanan's folio)! J. Morton Mt Eglinton, 3000 ft (here designated).
=P. novae-zelandiae forma laxiuscula Hack., T.N.Z.I. 35: 382 (1903);
Holotype: W 9513! T. Kirk Bealey Gorge, Canterbury Alps, alt. 3000 ft (No 1343 to Hackel).
=P. novae-zelandiae forma humilior Hack., T.N.Z.I. 35: 382 (1903)
≡P. novae-zelandiae var. wallii Cheeseman Man. N.Z. Fl. 189 (1925);
Lectotype: W 9512! T. F. C[heeseman] Nelson Alps, Raglan Range, Wairau Valley, alt. 5500 ft (No 1342 to Hackel) (designated by Edgar 1986 op. cit. p. 435).
Stout perennial, bright green tufts, variable in size, to 30 cm, with leaves usually erect and much narrowed above; branching intravaginal; leaf-blades persistent. Leaf-sheath light green, sometimes purpled, membranous, ribbed, glabrous, or with a few prickle-teeth on margin near ligule. Ligule 1-2-(6) mm, apically glabrous, entire, smooth, somewhat narrowed above to a point, abaxially pubescent-scabrid. Leaf-blade 5-15 cm × 1-3-(5) mm, folded, often with inrolled margins, coriaceous, mainly smooth, but adaxially sparsely scabrid near ligule, rarely finely scabrid throughout; margins with a few scattered prickle-teeth and midrib occasionally scabrid near the curved, often shortly apiculate tip. Culm 5-15-(30) cm, internodes glabrous. Panicle (3)-5-10 cm, dense with erect branches or more spreading and often drooping above; rachis glabrous, branches numerous, slender, glabrous, tipped by large, elliptic, acute spikelets. Spikelets 6-12 mm, 5-8-flowered, light green to purplish. Glumes ± equal, glabrous, smooth, rarely scabrid on midnerve, acuminate; lower 3-6 mm, 1-(3)-nerved, narrow-lanceolate, upper 3.5-7 mm, 3-nerved, narrow elliptic-lanceolate. Lemma 3.5-8 mm, 3-(5)-nerved, elliptic-lanceolate, acute to usually acuminate, glabrous except for long hairs near base of nerves, rarely scabrid on midnerve above hairs; margins narrow-membranous, entire. Palea 2.5-5 mm, keels sparsely short-scabrid to almost smooth, interkeel and flanks glabrous. Callus with thick tuft of long hairs just below midnerve of lemma and some hairs below lateral nerves. Rachilla 0.5-1 mm, glabrous. Lodicules c. 0.7 mm. Gynomonoecious: each spikelet with 1-2-(3) lower flowers ⚥, anthers 0.8-1.2-(1.4) mm, gynoecium c. 2 mm; upper flowers ♀ with small to minute colourless pollen-sterile anthers 0.1-0.3-(0.6) mm, gynoecium c. 1.5 mm. Caryopsis 1.5-2.5 × c. 0.5 mm. 2 n = 28. Plate 7C.
N.: mountains from Raukumara Range southwards; S.: mountains throughout, especially along and west of Main Divide; St.: on Mt Anglem. Montane to alpine in scree and on rocks, in grassland, riverbeds and fellfield.
Endemic.
Poa novae-zelandiae is frequently found growing with dioecious P. subvestita.
LECTOTYPIFICATION
Buchanan (1880 op. cit.) cited 2 specimens in the protologue of P. foliosa var. γ : Mt Eglington, 3000 ft J. Morton and Mt Arthur 4-200 ft A. Mackay; the specimen from Mt Eglington designated lectotype was illustrated in t. 43B.
