Austroderia
| Toetoe | |
|---|---|
| Austroderia toetoe | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Danthonioideae |
| Tribe: | Danthonieae |
| Genus: | Austroderia N.P.Barker & H.P.Linder |
| Type species | |
| Austroderia richardii (Endl.) N.P.Barker & H.P.Linder | |
| Synonyms | |
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Austroderia is a genus of five species of tall grasses native to New Zealand, commonly known as toetoe (from Māori). The species are A. toetoe, A. fulvida, A. splendens, A. richardii and A. turbaria. They were recently reclassified in 2011 from the genus Cortaderia, although their distinctiveness had been recognized as early as 1853.
Two closely related South American species are Cortaderia jubata and C. selloana (Pampas Grass), which have been introduced to New Zealand and are often mistaken for toetoe. These introduced species tend to take over from the native toetoe and are regarded as invasive weeds. Among the differences between Pampas, Toetoe has a drooping flower head, a cream coloured plume, and the leaves do not break when tugged firmly. Toetoe also has a white, waxy bloom on the leaf-sheath and conspicuous veins between the midrib and leaf margin.