Chionochloa australis
| Chionochloa australis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Chionochloa australis in Kahurangi National Park | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Chionochloa |
| Species: | C. australis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Chionochloa australis (Buchanan) Zotov
| |
Chionochloa australis, or carpet grass, is a species of grass, endemic to New Zealand.[2] It is known as haumata or wī kura in Māori.[3]
Description
[edit]Chionochloa australis grows in wide mats of grass in montane areas. The leaves are short and densely packed, although the culms are as long as 400mm. Around four spikelets, of up to 8 purple florets, grow on long branchlets.[2]
They are "distinctive in the presence of adaxial sheath hairs, projecting leaf-blade hairs, and hanks of hairs at sheath apex."[4]
The grass is perennial.[5]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Chionochloa australis is known only from the South Island, where it grows in montane areas in herbfields and grasslands from Nelson to Canterbury.[2]
There are some records from Fiordland and Campbell Island which may not be verified.[6]
Etymology
[edit]australis means 'southern' in Latin.[2]
Taxonomy
[edit]The lectotype is from the Kaikoura mountains.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "NZTCS". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
- ^ a b c d "Chionochloa australis". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
- ^ "Chionochloa australis (Buchanan) Zotov - Biota of NZ". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
- ^ a b "Chionochloa australis (Buchanan) Zotov - Flora of New Zealand Series". Flora of New Zealand Series. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
- ^ "Chionochloa australis (Buchanan) Zotov | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
- ^ "Chionochloa australis (Buchanan) Zotov". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
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