The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Poa spania

Etymology

Poa: meadow grass

Common Name(s)

Awahokomo poa

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Threatened - Nationally Critical
2004 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

Qualifiers

2012 - CD, OL, Sp
2009 - CD, OL, Sp

Authority

Poa spania Edgar et Molloy

Family

Poaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Grasses

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. South Island, Waitaki Valley, where it is known only from two small < 1 ha (collectively) limestone outcrops.

Habitat

Confined to limestone tors and castles, where it grows amongst crevices, joints and on the associated rendzina soils.

Features

Grey-green or purple-green short-lived perennial grass, forming slender tufts up to 220 mm tall. Leaves tough, wiry, < culms; branching mainly extravaginal, leaf-blades persistent. Leaf-sheath pale brown to purple, membranous, distinctly ribbed. Ligule 1-1.5 mm, lacerate, ciliate, underside pubescent-scabrid. Leaf-blade 60 x 1 mm, folded, midrib underside adorned with sparse prickle-teeth, upper side of leaf covered with minute stiff hairs; margins inrolled. Culm to 150 mm, slender, purple, bearing1-2 cauline leaves, internodes glabrous. Panicle 20-60 mm, open, sparingly branched; branches usually smooth, bearing 1-2 spikelets at apices. Spikelets 2-3 mm, 2-3-flowered, silvery purplish green. Glumes subequal, 2-2.5 mm, margins wide, hyaline, lower glume elliptic-lanceolate, acute to acuminate 1-3-nerved, upper ovate, obtuse, 3-nerved. Lemma 2-2.4 mm, 5-nerved, ovate, obtuse. Palea 2 mm. Callus with minute fine hairs. Anthers 0.7-1.1 mm purplish. Stigma-styles 1-1.4 mm white.

Similar Taxa

Allied to Poa lindsayi Hook.f. which differs by the intravaginal innovations, shorter, truncate, glabrous ligule, and shorter glumes and anthers.

Flowering

November - January

Flower Colours

Violet / Purple

Fruiting

December - March

Propagation Technique

Can be grown from division of existing plants. Probably easy from seed if seed can be obtained. Dislikes humidity.

Threats

Threatened by the very small habitat area it occupies which is subjected to frequent weed invasion by hawkweeds (Hieraceum spp.), Sedum acre L. and cocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata L.).

Chromosome No.

2n = 28

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 8 Sep 2014