Poa L. in new zealand

Abstract

The cosmopolitan genus Poa L. is revised for New Zealand. Of the 46 species recognised, 35 are indigenous, with all, except P. cookii of Macquarie, Kerguelen and Heard Is, endemic to the New Zealand Botanical Region. Ten naturalised species are recognised, eight from Europe, two from Australia. Eight new species and two new subspecies are described; 1 variety is raised to specific rank and 2 varieties raised to subspecific rank. A new name P. cita, is provided for the widespread silver tussock, formerly recorded as P. caes-pitosa. The relationship between the New Zealand subantarctic species and monotypic Parodiochloa of the southern South American region is briefly discussed; plants formerly referred to coastal Poa triodioides are regarded as belonging in Austrofestuca. Nine interspecific hybrids are discussed. © 1986 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.