Species

Carex erythrovaginata

Etymology

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

Common Name(s)

Lax Bastard Grass, Hook Sedge

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 erythrovaginata K.A.Ford

Family

Cyperaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

UNCLAX

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 laxiflora Petrie

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: North and South Islands (as far south as Dunedin)

Habitat

Coastal to montane. Usually in forest, rarely in scrub.

Features

Stout, densely caespitose-tufted, dark green plants. Culms 400.0-750.0 × 0.5–1.0 mm, trigonous, strongly scabrid above; basal bracts dull reddish brown. Leaves 3-6 per culm, < or = culm, 2-3 mm wide, strongly scabrid on margins and upper surface; sheath and basal part of lamina usually reddish pink. Spike 60-100 mm long, female flowers c.10, lax, internodes > mature utricles, 5-14 mm long at base of spike, 2 mm long above; spike often bracteate with lowermost glume leaf-like or setose. Glumes much < utricles, persistent, coriaceous obtuse or lowermost subacute, green with paler margins. Utricles 5-8 × c.1 mm, plano-convex or biconvex, fusiform, very faintly nerved, cuneate below forming a stipe c.1.5 mm long and tapered above to a beak c.2 mm long stipe and beak green, remainder very light grey

Similar Taxa

A very distinctive species easily recognised by the stout, leafy tussock-forming habit, narrow, dark green, flat leaves with strongly scabrid upper leaf surfaces. It is perhaps most similar to Carex strictissima (Petrie) K.A.Ford with which it had on occasion been confused. From that species it differs by its obviously leafy, rather than rush-like growth habit and by having 3-6 rather than 1-6, ± flat rather than mostly involute leaves which are 2-3 rather than c.1 mm wide. Further the inflorescences are rather lax rather than stiffly erect

Flowering

October - November

Fruiting

November - January (-March)

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and by division of established plants. Prefers a permanently moist, peaty soil but will grow in most substrates. Best in semi-shade.

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