Agrostis petriei
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| Agrostis petriei | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Agrostis |
| Species: | A. petriei |
| Binomial name | |
| Agrostis petriei Hack. | |
Agrostis petriei is a flowering plant in the family Poaceae (the grass family), which was described by Eduard Hackel.[1]
Agrostis petriei is a short, tussocky grass with involute, wiry, densely scabrid-papillose, bluish or greyish green leaves, on branches that are intravaginal (with shoots emerging from within the sheath of the previous node). Its panicle is borne on a reddish finely scabrid culm, is open and spreading, with spikelets that are 2.5-3.4mm, containing a single floret.[2]
Like all Agrostis native to Aotearoa/New Zealand, the palea is around 1/3rd of the length of the lemma, compared to 1/2-2/3rds in introduced species. Its open, spreading panicle rules out many indigenous species, and from all other species with an open, spreading panicle, it is differentiated by its leaves that are involute, wiry, and densely scabrid-papillose.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Agrostis petriei is endemic the South Island of Aotearoa/New Zealand. There, it is found dryland areas from Canterbury to Central Otago.
It grows in montane to subalpine areas, in dry stony ground, cliff faces and rock outcrops, as well as on river flats and within tussock grassland. Unlike other indigenous Agrostis species, it is found largely in dry areas.[4][5]
The type location was Nevis Valley, Hector Mountains, Central Otago, collected by Donald Petrie in February 1890.[2]
