Species
Carex subviridis
Etymology
Carex: Latin name for a species of sedge, now applied to the whole group.
Common Name(s)
Hook sedge, bastard grass, hook 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 subviridis K.A.Ford
Family
Cyperaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Native
UNCDIS
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 distans Col. ex Boott; Uncinia nelmesii Hamlin
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand. North and South Islands. Often sparsely distributed but locally common in the Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Auckland and Northland.
Habitat
Coastal to montane. Usually in forest, especially alluvial and riparian forest, or in dune forest. Also common in karst country around sink holes, tomo and within dolines..
Features
Rather gracile, very light- to dark green, tussock-forming, plants. Culms 250.0-600.0 × 0.5 mm, slightly scabrid above; basal sheaths light brown or reddish, occasionally enclosing the culm for more than half its length. Leaves 4-7 per culm, <, = or > culms, 1.5-3.0 mm wide, sharply scabrid on margins, slightly scabrid on upper surface towards tip. Spikes 40-140 mm long, often bracteate, lowermost glumes occasionally leaf-like and much > spike, male portion relatively long, female flowers c.10–20, ± distant, internodes 6-12 mm long below, 2 mm long above. Glumes < utricles, deciduous, acute, lower 2-3 acuminate and often produced to a scabrid awn, membranous, green. Utricles 5.5-9.0 × c.1.0 mm., plano-convex, narrow-oblong, light green or light brown, distinctly nerved, beak 1.5-2.0 mm long, narrow, with scabrid margins and occasionally a few teeth on the abaxial surface, stipe 1.5-2.0 mm long, narrow
Similar Taxa
Carex hamlinii K.A.Ford, another fine-leaved hook sedge has a superficial resemblance to C. subviridiss. Both species have a similar gracile growth habit, and rather fine light-green leaves and lax inflorescences. However, Carex hamlinii is a more southerly species of higher altitude forest, which is easily distinguished from C. subviridis by its glabrous rather than scabrid utricles. In the northern part of its range Carex subviridis may grow with another fine-leaved species Carex banksiana K.A.Ford, from which it differs by its greater stature, and scabrid rather than glabrous utricles.
Flowering
October - December
Fruiting
November - June
Propagation Technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and by division of established plants - though these may take a while to settle. Prefers moist soil in a a semi-shaded site. However, once established will tolerate a wide range of conditions except waterlogging.
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