Species

Carex corynoidea

Etymology

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

Common Name(s)

Bastard Grass, Fish Hooks

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 corynoidea K.A.Ford

Family

Cyperaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

UNCCLA

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 clavata (Kük.) Hamlin; Uncinia australis Pers. var. clavata Kük.; Uncinia uncinata (Linn.f.) Kük. var, clavata (Kük.) Kük.

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: North and South Islands, from about the Hunua Ranges south

Habitat

A species of montane forest, scrub and on river flats

Features

Robust, dark green to yellow-green plants. Leaves 5–9 per culm, usually > culms, 4-6(-8) mm wide, strongly scabrid on the margins and on the adaxial surface towards tip. Spikes 50-140 mm long, usually bracteate, clavate, 7-10(-15) mm diameter at the top below the male spike, female flowers numerous, usually c. 65-100, very closely crowded throughout almost the whole spike, internodes 0.5-4.0mm long but up to 8 mm long at base of spike. Glumes =, > or rarely < utricles, deciduous, narrow-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, yellowish brown to dark brown, midrib green. Utricles 5.0-7.0 × 1.5-2.0 mm, plano-convex to subtrigonous, ovate, yellow-brown to dark brown when ripe, one to two lateral nerves prominent and lighter coloured, stipe 1.5-2.0 mm long, beak 1.5-2.0 mm long; spreading widely when ripe.

Similar Taxa

Most closely allied to Carex megalepis K.A.Fordand C. uncinata L.f. Of both species it is most closely allied to Carex megalepis from which it differs by the yellow or dark brown rather than golden yellow or rust-coloured glumes which are equal to or only slightly greater in length (rather than twice as long) than the utricles, and by the widely rather than scarcely spreading utricles. Carex uncinata differs by the usually narrower spikes, early deciduous rather than longer lasting deciduous glumes, which are usually much shorter than the utricles

Flowering

October - December

Fruiting

November - April

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 26 Aug 2015