Austroderia splendens

Austroderia splendens

Declining (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Austroderia
Species:
A. splendens
Binomial name
Austroderia splendens
(Connor) N.P.Barker & H.P.Linder
Synonyms[2]
  • Cortaderia splendens Connor

Austroderia splendens, the toetoe, is a species of grass in the family Poaceae, native to New Zealand.[2]

Description

Austroderia splendens is a grass with tall tussocks of up to 6 m (20 ft) tall. It can be distinguished from other Austroderia due to having wider, more flexible leaves,and by its leaf blade, which above the ligule is densely hairy.[3][4]

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1971 by Henry Connor using the name Cortaderia splendens.[3] Connor identified the taxon as being distinct after discovering that some members of toetoe found near Raglan, originally thought to be Cortaderia toetoe, lacked triterpene methyl ethers.[3]

Range and habitat

The species is endemic to New Zealand, found on the North Island as far south as Waikawau and the Ohiwa Harbour, and on off-shore islands including Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands.[4] The species is primarily found in coastal areas.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Austroderia splendens (Connor) N.P.Barker & H.P.Linder". New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) Department of Conservation (New Zealand). 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Austroderia splendens (Connor) N.P.Barker & H.P.Linder". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Connor, H. E. (September 1971). "Cortaderia splendens Connor sp. nov. (Gramineae)". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 9 (3): 519–525. doi:10.1080/0028825X.1971.10430197. ISSN 0028-825X. Wikidata Q54670240.
  4. ^ a b de Lange, P.J. "Austroderia splendens Fact Sheet". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 12 August 2025.