Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Agropyron sect. Australopyrum Tzvelev, Nov. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 10: 35 (1973)

≡Agropyron subgen. Kamptopyrum Potztal, Willdenowia 5: 473 (1969).

Type species: A. pectinatum (Labill.) Á.Löve

Caespitose, extravaginally branching perennial. Leaf-sheath hairy. Auricles short clasping. Ligule short, lacerate. Leaf-blade hairy. Culm short stiff erect, internodes usually hairy. Inflorescence short, spike-like raceme of imbricate, pedicelled spikelets broadside to tough hairy rachis; rachis prolonged. Spikelets appressed or becoming reflexed, laterally compressed; disarticulation flat, and above glumes. Glumes persistent, rigid, shining or dull, indurate or foliaceous, patent or reflexed; awn-like; adaxially antrorsely hairy. Lemma 5-7-nerved, variously ornamented, terminated by sharp, shining or dull awn. Palea keels denticulate. Anthers 1-3 mm. Ovary with hairy apical corona 0.5-1 mm, apex with hispid hairs. Caryopsis linear, adhering to anthoecium. Chasmogamous or cleistogamous.

5 spp. of Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand. Endemic sp. 1; naturalised spp. 2.

A diploid monogenomic genus in which spikelet and/or glume orientation alters as the inflorescence matures.

Treatment follows Connor, H. E., Molloy, B. P. J. and Dawson, M. I. N.Z. J. Bot. 31: 1-10 (1993). The explicit exclusion of Australopyrum from the tribe by Kellogg, E. A. and Watson, L. Bot. Rev. 59: 273-343 (1993), and considered improbable by Connor, H. E. N.Z. J. Bot. 32: 125-154 (1994), is unsupported by any molecular study, [Kellogg, E. A., Appels, R. and Mason-Gamer, R. J. Syst. Bot. 21: 321-347 (1996)].