Toetoe

Austroderia species

Toetoe – New Zealand’s biggest native grass

Toetoe is New Zealand’s largest native grass, growing in clumps up to 3m in height. They were recently reclassified in 2011 from the Cortaderia genus. There are five species We have only two in the North

  • Austroderia fulvida only in the North Island and very north of the South Island,
  • Austroderia. spendens only in the upper North Island,
Two closely related South America 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.

Common names:

Commonly called Cutty grass Toetoe (sometimes misspelt as toitoi),
  • toetoe-kākaho,
  • toetoe-mokoro,
  • toetoe-rākau.
  • The flower stem is kākaho.

Description

Toetoe very large stout tussocks (clump grasses) from 1.5 to 3 m tall, with coarse, green, flat, narrow (2−5 cm wide), sharp-edged leaves from 1 to 3 m long, and upright flowering stems (culms) 2.5−6 m tall.
The usually one-sided flower/seed head is often drooping, at least at the tip. It has many fine hanging branches containing numerous tiny flower clusters encased in soft, hairy scales. These scales impart the distinctive thick, soft, plume-like character of the flowering heads.

Location

Toetoe can be found on the side of the road by the nature trail entrance

Toetoe prefers Wet places, stream, lake and forest margins, and disturbed hillsides, from sea level to the subalpine zone are the habitats for A. fulvida (North Island) and A. richardii (South Island).

Significance to Maori

The Māori used the toetoe leaves to make baskets, kites, mats, wall linings and roof thatching.
It was also used to make containers to cook food in hot springs.
The flower stalks were also useful – as frames for kites, and in tukutuku panelling.
The white plumes of the toetoe seed heads were compacted into a covering that would stop bleeding.
Other medicinal uses included treatment of diarrhea, bladder, kidney complaints and burns.
They ate the stalks as a food.
A paste was made from burning toetoe and then adding the ashes to water for placement on burns

Comparison between Toetoe and Pampas grass

information from Landcare research

Issue Toetoe Pampas
Flowering time Spring, early summer (though retains flower heads) Late January to late May
Flower head Drooping Erect, dense
Plume colour White/cream One species pink/purplish, drying to dirty brown, white
Leaf Won’t break when tugged firmly Breaks
Leaf blade Prominent veins either side of midrib Only fine, indistinct veins either side of midrib
Midrib Continues into leaf base Does not continue into leaf base
Leaf base White, waxy Not waxy
Base of plant Dead leaves don’t form spiral Old brown tightly curled, fractured leaf debris – like wood chips

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