Poaceae
Chionochloa

Chionochloa vireta Connor

First published in New Zealand J. Bot. 29: 261 (1991)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is New Zealand South Island. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the subalpine or subarctic biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths yellow; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; slender; 30-60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 5-10 cm long; pilose; inner surface glabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded; 3.5 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades tortuous; deciduous at the ligule; 15-30 cm long; 1-2.5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade midrib keeled beneath. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open; elliptic; 7-13 cm long. Panicle branches glabrous; bearded in axils. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 6-8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15-18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; pilose; disarticulating obliquely. Floret callus hairs 2.5 mm long.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 6-8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15-18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; pilose; disarticulating obliquely. Floret callus hairs 2.5 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 9-10 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1-5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 10-11 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3-7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma elliptic; 9-10 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 4 mm long; incised 0.4 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; flat below; 5-7 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2 mm long. Palea 6-7 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; 1 mm long; membranous; veined; ciliate. Anthers 3.5 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2 mm long. Hilum linear.
Distribution
Australasia: New Zealand.
Reference
Arundineae. Connor.
[GB]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0