Species

Carex hamlinii

Etymology

Carex: Latin name for a species of sedge, now applied to the whole group.

Common Name(s)

Hamlin's Hook Grass, Hamlin'sBastard Grass

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Carex hamlinii K.A.Ford

Family

Cyperaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

UNCAST

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Sedges

Synonyms

Uncinia astonii Hamlin

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand. North Island( Southern Ruahine and Tararua Ranges), South Island (Nelson, Westland, Otago, Fiordland)

Habitat

Usually associated with the understorey of beech (Nothofagus) forest, growing at altitudes of between 300–1200 m a.s.l.

Features

Dark green, densely caespitose plants. Culms 0.2-0.6 m long, < 0.5 mm diameter, glabrous; basal bracts light brown. Leaves 3-6 per culm, = or < culms, 1-2 mm wide, light yellow-green or rarely red, occasionally involute, rather wiry, margins finely scabrid. Spikes 40-100 × 3–5 mm, occasionally bracteate, female flowers c. 10-20, distant in lower third of spike with internodes to 9 mm long, more crowded above with internodes 2-5 mm long. Glumes usually = but occasionally < or > utricles, deciduous, lanceolate, acute, hyaline, light brown throughout. Utricles 5.5-7.0 × c.1 mm, plano-convex or subtrigonous, elliptic-lanceolate, grey-green, membranous, nerved, erect or spreading when ripe, distinctly contracted below to a stipe slightly < 1.5 mm long, gradually tapered above to a beak 1.5-2.0 mm long

Similar Taxa

This fine-leaved species has a superficial resemblance to Carex subviridis K.A.Ford which also has a gracile habit, and rather fine light-green leaves and lax inflorescences. From that species it is easily distinguished by its glabrous rather than scabrid utricles.

Flowering

November - December

Fruiting

December - March

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and by the division of established plants (though these may then take a while to settle). Prefers a shaded site, and should be planted within a deep, rich, free draining but permanently moist soil

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 88

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Where To Buy

Not Commercially Available

 

Attribution

Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970). Fact sheet prepared by Peter J. de Lange 17 August 2006.

References and further reading

Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II. Government Printer, Wellington.

This page last updated on 16 Jan 2016