List of grasses of New Zealand

The grass family Poaceae is one of the largest plant families in New Zealand. There are 496 grass species recorded, the majority of which are introduced and naturalised – a total of 285, including one eradicated species and 54 casually–naturalised species. Of the 194 indigenous species, the majority (165 species) are endemic.[1][2][3]

Species list

The following is a list of grass species known to exist in New Zealand, sorted alpabetically by genus. The conservation statuses follow the Department of Conservation's Conservation Status of Vascular Plants in New Zealand (2023).[4] All species are sourced from the Landcare Research Flora of New Zealand website, unless indicated otherwise.[3]

Achnatherum P.Beauv.

Aira L.

Amelichloa Arriaga & Barkworth

  • Amelichloa caudata (Trin.) Arriaga & Barkworth (Naturalised)

Anemanthele Veldkamp

  • Anthoxanthum aristatum Boiss. (Naturalised)
  • Anthoxanthum brunonis (Hook. f.) de Lange & C.J. James (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Anthoxanthum cupreum (Zotov) de Lange & C.J. James (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Anthoxanthum equisetum (Zotov) de Lange & C.J. James (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Anthoxanthum fuscum (Zotov) de Lange & C.J. James (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Anthoxanthum novae-zelandiae (Gand.) de Lange & C.J. James (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Anthoxanthum odoratum L. (Naturalised)
  • Anthoxanthum recurvatum (Hack.) de Lange & C.J. James (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Anthoxanthum redolens P.Royen (Endemic; Not Threatened)

Arrhenatherum P.Beauv.

Australopyrum (Tzvelev) Á.Löve

  • Australopyrum calcis Connor et Molloy (Endemic; Threatened - Nationally Critical)
  • Australopyrum pectinatum (Labill.) (Naturalised)
  • Australopyrum retrofractum (Vickery) (Naturalised)

Austroderia N.P.Barker et H.P.Linder

Austrostipa S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett

  • Austrostipa bigeniculata (Hughes) S.W.L. Jacobs et J. Everett (Naturalised)
  • Austrostipa blackii (C.E. Hubb.) S.W.L. Jacobs et J. Everett (Naturalised)
  • Austrostipa curticoma (Vickery) S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett (Naturalised)
  • Austrostipa flavescens (Labill.) S.W.L. Jacobs et J. Everett (Naturalised)
  • Austrostipa nitida (Summerhayes et C.E.Hubb.) S.W.L. Jacobs et J. Everett (Naturalised)
  • Austrostipa nodosa (S.T.Blake) S.W.L. Jacobs et J. Everett (Naturalised)
  • Austrostipa ramosissima (Trin.) S.W.L. Jacobs & J. Everett (Naturalised)
  • Austrostipa rudis (Spreng.) S.W.L. Jacobs et J. Everett (Naturalised)
  • Austrostipa scabra (Lindl.) S.W.L. Jacobs et J. Everett (Naturalised)
  • Austrostipa stipoides (Hook.f.) S.W.L. Jacobs et J. Everett (Indigenous; Not Threatened)
  • Austrostipa stuposa (Hughes) S.W.L. Jacobs et J. Everett (Naturalised)
  • Austrostipa verticillata (Nees) S.W.L. Jacobs et J. Everett (Naturalised)

Axonopus P.Beauv.

Bambusa Schreb.

Brachypodium P.Beauv.

Buchloe (Nutt.) Engelm.

  • Chascolyptrum subaristatum (Lam.) Desv. (Naturalised)
  • Chascolytrum poomorphum (J.Presl) Essi, Longhi-Wagner et Souza-Chies (Naturalised - Casual)
  • Chascolytrum rufum J.Presl (Naturalised)
  • Chascolytrum subaristatum (Lam.) Desv. (Naturalised - Casual)
  • Chascolytrum uniolae (Nees) Essi, Longhi-Wagner et Souza-Chies (Naturalised - Casual)
  • Chionochloa acicularis Zotov (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Chionochloa antarctica (Hook.f.) Zotov (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Chionochloa australis (Buchanan) Zotov (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Chionochloa beddiei Zotov (Endemic; Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable)
  • Chionochloa bromoides (Hook.f.) Zotov (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Chionochloa cheesemanii (Hack.) Zotov (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Chionochloa conspicua (G.Forst.) Zotov (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Chionochloa crassiuscula (Kirk) Zotov (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Chionochloa defracta Connor (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Chionochloa flavescens Connor (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Chionochloa flavicans Connor (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Chionochloa juncea Zotov (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Chionochloa lanea Connor (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Chionochloa macra Zotov (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Chionochloa nivifera Connor et K.M.Lloyd (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Chionochloa oreophila (Petrie) Zotov (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Chionochloa ovata (Buchanan) Zotov (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Chionochloa pallens Connor (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Chionochloa rigida Connor (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Chionochloa rubra Connor (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Chionochloa spiralis Zotov (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Chionochloa teretifolia (Petrie) Zotov (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Chionochloa vireta Connor (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)

Chusquea Kunth

  • Chusquea galeottiana Rupr. ex Munro (Naturalised)
  • Chusquea gigantea J. P. Demoly (Naturalised)

Connorochloa Barkworth, S.W.L.Jacobs & H.Q.Zhang

  • Connorochloa tenuis (Buchanan) Barkworth, S.W.L.Jacobs, et H.Q.Zhang (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)

Coix L.

Cymbopogon Spreng.

Cynodon Rich.

  • Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (Naturalised)
  • Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy (Naturalised)

Deschampsia P.Beauv.

Digitaria Haller

Echinochloa P.Beauv.

Echinopogon P.Beauv.

Ehrharta Thunb.

  • Ehrharta calycina Sm. (Naturalised)
  • Ehrharta erecta Lam. (Naturalised)
  • Ehrharta longiflora Sm. (Naturalised)
  • Ehrharta villosa (L.f.) Schult. et Schult.f. (Naturalised)

Eleusine Gaertn.

  • Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. (Naturalised)
  • Eleusine tristachya (Lam.) Lam. (Naturalised)

Elytrigia Desv.

Entolasia Stapf

Gastridium P.Beauv.

Glyceria R.Br.

Hainardia Greuter

  • Hemarthria uncinata R.Br. (Naturalised - Casual)
  • Himalayacalamus falconeri (Munro) Keng f. (Naturalised)

Imperata Cirillo

  • Imperata cheesemanii Hack. (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Imperata cylindrica (Nees) C.E.Hubb. (Naturalised)

Isachne R.Br.

Koeleria Pers.

  • Koeleria antarctica (G.Forst.) Barberá, Quintanar, Soreng et P.M.Peterson (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Koeleria arduana (Edgar et A.P.Druce) Barberá, Quintanar, Soreng et P.M.Peterson (Indigenous; At Risk - Declining)
  • Koeleria cheesemanii (Hack.) Petrie (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Koeleria drucei (Edgar) Barberá, Quintanar, Soreng et P.M.Peterson (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Koeleria lasiorhachis (Hack) Barberá, Quintanar, Soreng et P.M.Peterson (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Koeleria lepida (Edgar et A.P.Druce) Barberá, Quintanar, Soreng et P.M.Peterson (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Koeleria novozelandica Domin (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Koeleria riguorum Edgar et Gibb (Endemic; Data Deficient)
  • Koeleria serpentina (Edgar et A.P.Druce) Barberá, Quintanar, Soreng et P.M.Peterson (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Koeleria spicata (L.) Barberá, Quintanar, Soreng et P.M.Peterson (Indigenous; Not Threatened)
  • Koeleria tenella (Petrie) Barberá, Quintanar, Soreng et P.M.Peterson (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Koeleria youngii (Hook.f.) Barberá, Quintanar, Soreng et P.M.Peterson (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Lachnagrostis ammobia Edgar (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Lachnagrostis billardierei (R.Br.) Trin. (Indigenous; Not Threatened)
  • Lachnagrostis elata Edgar (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Lachnagrostis filiformis (G.Forst.) Trin. (Indigenous; Not Threatened)
  • Lachnagrostis glabra (Petrie) Edgar (Endemic; Data Deficient)
  • Lachnagrostis leptostachys (Hook.f.) Zotov (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Lachnagrostis littoralis (Hack.) Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Lachnagrostis lyallii (Hook.f.) Zotov (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Lachnagrostis pilosa (Buchanan) Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Lachnagrostis striata (Colenso) Zotov (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Lachnagrostis tenuis (Cheeseman) Edgar (Endemic; Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable)
  • Lachnagrostis uda Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened - Naturally Uncommon)

Lepturus R.Br.

  • Lepturus repens (G.Forst.) R.Br. (Indigenous - Vagrant)

Leymus Hochst.

Megathyrsus (Pilg.) B.K.Simon & S.W.L.Jacobs

Melinis P.Beauv

  • Microlaena avenacea (Raoul.) Hook.f. (Indigenous; Not Threatened)
  • Microlaena carsei Cheeseman (Endemic; Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable)
  • Microlaena polynoda (Hook.f.) Hook.f. (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Microlaena stipoides (Labill.) R.Br. (Indigenous; Not Threatened)

Miscanthus Andersson

Nassella (Trin.) É.Desv.

Oloptum Röser & Hamasha

Oplismenus P.Beauv.

Parapholis C.E.Hubb.

  • Pentapogon aucklandicus (Hook.f.) de Lange et L.M.H.Schmid (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Pentapogon avenoides (Hook.f.) P.M. Peterson, Romasch. et Soreng (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Pentapogon crinitus (L. f.) P.M. Peterson, Romasch. et Soreng (Indigenous; Not Threatened)
  • Pentapogon inaequiglumis (Hack. ex Cheeseman) P.M. Peterson, Romasch. et Soreng (Indigenous; At Risk - Declining)
  • Pentapogon lacustris (Edgar et Connor) de Lange et L.M.H.Schmid (Endemic; Threatened - Nationally Critical)
  • Pentapogon lautumia (Edgar & Connor) P.M. Peterson, Romasch. & Soreng (Endemic; Threatened - Nationally Endangered)
  • Pentapogon micranthus (Cav.) P.M. Peterson, Romasch. et Soreng (Indigenous; Threatened - Nationally Critical)
  • Pentapogon rarus (R. Br.) P.M. Peterson, Romasch. et Soreng (Indigenous; At Risk - Declining)
  • Pentapogon quadrifidus (Labill.) Baill. (Naturalised)
  • Pentapogon quadrisetus (Labill.) P.M. Peterson, Romasch. et Soreng (Naturalised)
  • Pentapogon sieberianus (Trin. et Rupr.) P.M. Peterson, Romasch. et Soreng (Naturalised)
  • Pentapogon youngii (Hook.f.) de Lange L.M.H.Schmid, comb. nov. (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)

Phragmites Adans.

Phyllostachys Siebold & Zucc.

  • Piptochaetium depressum (Steud.) Pena Hernández, Negritto, Ruiz, E. & C.M. Baeza (Naturalised)[6]
  • Pleioblastus auricomus (Mitford) D.C.McClint. (Naturalised)
  • Pleioblastus chino (Franch. et Sav.) Makino (Naturalised)
  • Pleioblastus gramineus (Bean) Nakai (Naturalised)
  • Pleioblastus hindsii (Munro) Nakai (Naturalised)
  • Pleioblastus variegatus (Miq.) Makino (Naturalised)

Poa L.

  • Poa acicularifolia Buchanan (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Poa alpina L. (Naturalised - Casual)
  • Poa anceps G.Forst. (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa annua L. (Naturalised)
  • Poa antipoda Petrie (Endemic; At Risk Naturally Uncommon)
  • Poa astonii Petrie (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa aucklandica Petrie (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Poa billardierei (Spreng.)St.-Yves (Endemic; At Risk Declining)
  • Poa breviglumis Hook.f. (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa buchananii Zotov (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa bulbosa L. (Naturalised)
  • Poa celsa Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa chathamica Petrie (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Poa cita Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa cockayneana Petrie (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa colensoi Hook.f. (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa compressa L. (Naturalised)
  • Poa dipsacea Petrie (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa foliosa (Hook.f.) Hook.f. (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Poa hesperia Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa imbecilla Spreng (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa incrassata Petrie (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Poa infirma Kunth (Naturalised)
  • Poa intrusa Edgar (Endemic; Data Deficient)
  • Poa kirkii Buchanan (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa labillardierei Steud. (Naturalised)
  • Poa lindsayi Hook.f. (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa litorosa Cheeseman (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Poa maia Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa maniototo Petrie (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Poa matthewsii Petrie (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa nemoralis L. (Naturalised)
  • Poa novae-zelandiae Hack. (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa palustris L. (Naturalised)
  • Poa polyphylla Hack. (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)[7]
  • Poa pratensis L. (Naturalised)
  • Poa pusilla Bergg. (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa pygmaea Buchanan (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Poa ramosissima Hook.f. (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Poa remota Forselles (Naturalised - Casual)
  • Poa schistacea Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa senex Edgar (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Poa sieberiana Spreng. (Naturalised)
  • Poa spania Edgar et Molloy (Endemic; Threatened - Nationally Critical)
  • Poa sublimis Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa subvestita (Hack.) Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa sudicola Edgar (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Poa tennantiana Petrie (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Poa tonsa Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Poa trivialis L. (Naturalised)
  • Poa xenica Edgar et Connor (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)

Polypogon Desf.

  • Puccinellia antipoda (Petrie) Allan et Jansen (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)[8]
  • Puccinellia chathamica (Cheeseman) Allan et Jansen (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)[9]
  • Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl. (Naturalised)
  • Puccinellia fasciculata (Torr.) E.P.Bicknell (Naturalised)
  • Puccinellia raroflorens Edgar (Endemic; Threatened - Nationally Critical)
  • Puccinellia rupestris (With.) Fernald et Weath. (Naturalised)
  • Puccinellia stricta (Hook.f.) Blom. (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Puccinellia walkeri (Kirk) Allan (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)

Rostraria Trin.

  • Rytidosperma auriculatum (J.M.Black) Connor et Edgar (Naturalised)
  • Rytidosperma australe (Petrie) Connor et Edgar (Indigenous; Not Threatened)
  • Rytidosperma biannulare (Zotov) Connor et Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Rytidosperma buchananii (Hook.f.) Connor et Edgar (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Rytidosperma caespitosum (Gaudich.) Connor et Edgar (Naturalised)
  • Rytidosperma carphoides (F.Muell. ex Benth.) Connor & Edgar (Naturalised)
  • Rytidosperma clavatum (Zotov) Connor et Edgar (Indigenous; Not Threatened)
  • Rytidosperma corinum Connor et Edgar (Endemic; Data Deficient)
  • Rytidosperma erianthum (Lindl.) Connor et Edgar (Naturalised)
  • Rytidosperma exiguum (Kirk) H.P.Linder (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Rytidosperma gracile (Hook.f.) Connor et Edgar (Indigenous; Not Threatened)
  • Rytidosperma horrens Connor et Molloy (Endemic; Threataned - Nationally Critical)
  • Rytidosperma laeve (Vickery) Connor et Edgar (Naturalised)
  • Rytidosperma maculatum (Zotov) Connor et Edgar (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Rytidosperma merum Connor et Edgar (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Rytidosperma nigricans (Petrie) Connor et Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Rytidosperma nudum (Hook.f.) Connor et Edgar (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Rytidosperma penicillatum (Labill.) Connor et Edgar (Naturalised)
  • Rytidosperma petrosum Connor et Edgar (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Rytidosperma pilosum (R.Br.) Connor et Edgar (Naturalised)
  • Rytidosperma pulchrum (Zotov) Connor et Edgar (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Rytidosperma pumilum (Kirk) Connor et Edgar (Indigenous; Not Threatened)
  • Rytidosperma racemosum (R.Br.) Connor et Edgar (Naturalised)
  • Rytidosperma setifolium (Hook.f.) Connor et Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Rytidosperma telmaticum Connor et Molloy (Endemic; Threataned - Nationally Vulnerable)
  • Rytidosperma tenue (Petrie) Connor et Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Rytidosperma tenuius (Steud.) A.Hansen et Sunding (Naturalised)
  • Rytidosperma thomsonii (Buchanan) Connor et Edgar (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Rytidosperma unarede (Raoul) Connor et Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Rytidosperma viride (Zotov) Connor et Edgar (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase (Naturalised)

Sasa Makino & Shibata

Sasaella Makino

  • Sasaella ramosa (Makino) Makino (Naturalised)

Sesleria Scop.

Setaria P.Beauv.

  • Simplicia buchananii (Zotov) Zotov (Endemic; Threatened - Nationally Critical)
  • Simplicia felix de Lange, J.R.Rolfe, Smissen et Ogle (Endemic; Threatened - Nationally Critical)
  • Simplicia laxa Kirk (Endemic; Threatened - Nationally Critical)

Sorghum Moench

  • Stenostachys deceptorix Connor (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Stenostachys enysii (Kirk) Barkworth et S.W.L.Jacobs (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Stenostachys gracilis (Hook.f.) Connor (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Stenostachys laevis (Petrie) Connor (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)

Themeda Forssk.

Thinopyrum Á.Löve

Trisetum Pers.

Urochloa P.Beauv.

Zea L.

Zotovia Edgar & Connor

  • Zotovia acicularis Edgar et Connor (Endemic; At Risk - Naturally Uncommon)
  • Zotovia colensoi (Hook.f.) Edgar et Connor (Endemic; Not Threatened)
  • Zotovia thomsonii (Petrie) Edgar et Connor (Endemic; Not Threatened)

Zoysia Willd.

  • Zoysia minima (Colenso) Zotov (Endemic; At Risk - Declining)
  • Zoysia pauciflora Mez (Endemic; Not Threatened)

References

  1. ^ "Contents of electronic version - Flora of New Zealand Series". floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz. Archived from the original on 30 January 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Flora search results". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Gramineae". www.nzflora.info. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  4. ^ Peter J. de Lange; Jane Gosden; Shannel P. Courtney; et al. (October 2024). "Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 43: 1–105. ISSN 2324-1713. Wikidata Q130392985.
  5. ^ "Cenchrus americanus". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Piptochaetium depressum". www.nzflora.info. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Poa polyphylla". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Puccinellia antipoda". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Puccinellia chathamica". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Setaria gracilis". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Zizania palustris". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 21 August 2025.