Anthosachne sacandros is a species of true grass in the tribe Triticeae. It is endemic to open habitats in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand.[3] It grows on limestone cliffs, bluffs and river terraces, from elevations of 0–900m. It flowers from October–February, and fruits from December–May.
It is a medium-size, tufted, perennial grass. It is a long-awned Anthosachne, with spikelets appressed to the rachis, and with involute leaf-blades. It is most similar to A. falcis, from which it can be distinguished by its erect growth form, and long, thin, ribbed and glaucous leaf blades, with a dense weft of hairs at the leaf blade–ligule junction.[4]
Distribution and habitat
A. sacandros is endemic to Marlborough from sea level to 900m above sea level, with most populations on coasts. It is a calcicole, found on limestone cliffs and river terraces in open habitat.[3]
The type location is Isolation Creek, northwest of Ben More, Marlborough, collected in 1975.[3]
Threats
Anthosachne sacandros is listed as At Risk - Naturally Uncommon by the New Zealand Threat Classification System. Its threats are poorly known, and there is little information about population size or trends.[5]
Before 1994, what is now considered A.sacandros was considered part of the widespread species now called Anthosachne scabra.[3] Then, along with A. sacandros, both species were described for the first time in the genus Elymus, as E.aprica and E. sacandros.[7] In 2011, genetic analysis showed that the Australasian Elymus were distinct from Elymus elsewhere, and were moved into the resurrected genus Anthosachne, hence the present name Anthosachnesacandros.[8]
Etymology
The name 'Anthosachne' comes from the Greek 'anthos', meaning flower, and 'achne' , meaning scale, probably referring to the sterile upper florets of the spikelets.[9]
The name 'sacandros' refers to the weft of hairs on the leaf-blade just above the ligule.[10] Presumably, this comes from 'sakos' meaning shield, and 'andros', meaning man, similar to the genus Androsace.[11]
Biology
A. sacandros flowers from October-February, and fruits from December-May. Seeds and pollen are dispersed by wind.[12] It is chasmogamous, meaning it is an out-crossing species.[13]
References
↑ Lange, Peter J. de; Rolfe, Jeremy R.; Barkla, John W.; Courtney, Shannel P.; Champion, Paul D.; Perrie, Leon R.; Beadel, Sarah M.; Ford, Kerry A.; Breitwieser, Ilse; Schönberger, Ines; Hindmarsh-Walls, Rowan (May 2018). "Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017"(PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 22: 1–86. OCLC1041649797.
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