Poa novae-zelandiae

Poa novae-zelandiae is endemic to New Zealand, and is found in the North, South, and Stewart Island. In the North Island, it is found from mountains in the Raukūmara Range, the Volcanic Plateau, Taranaki, Ruahine Ranges, and Tararua Ranges. In the South Island, it is found at high altitudes throughout, particularly along and west of Main Divide. On Stewart Island it is found on Mt Anglem. The type specimens listed in Hackel's 1902 paper are Arthur's Pass at 1000 m, Hooker Glacier, Mount Arthur Plateau, and the Humboldt mountains.

Poa novae-zelandiae is a species common in rocky, sparsely vegetated areas, often in very high alpine environments. At Earnslaw Burn it is described as growing in sparsely vegetated loose debris slopes with small rock ledges, with Ranunculus buchananii, Anisotome pilifera, Luzula rufa, and Epilobium pycnostachyum. At Mt Aspiring Station, it is described as growing in alpine scree and fellfield above 1800 metres, with Anisotome imbricata, Epilobium purpuratum, Colobanthus buchananii, Leptinella pectinata subsp. wilcoxii, Veronica planopetiolata, Ranunculus buchananii, Luzula pumila, Montia sessiliflora, Haastia sinclairii, and Azorella exigua.

Poa - from the ancient Greek name 'poa' for grass of fodder. novae-zelandiae - from New Zealand.