The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Carex diandra

Etymology

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

Common Name(s)

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 diandra Schrank

Family

Cyperaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

CARDIA

Structural Class

Sedges

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Indigenous. New Zealand: North and South Islands. Uncommon in the North Island and mainly found south of the Central Volcanic Plateau. More widespread in the South Island. Also present throughout the North Hemisphere and most of the Southern Hemisphere.

Habitat

Coastal to subalpine in open, moderately fertile to mid oligotrophic wetlands developed on river flats, within forest or in short or tall-tussock grasslands.

Features

Rhizomatous; loosely tufted, non tussock-forming, pale or bright green (rarely glaucous green), sedge. Shoots arising singly from the rhizome. Rhizome c.2 mm diameter, loosely covered by dark brown sheaths, roots, fibrous, chestnut-brown; shoots approximate, 2-3 mm diameter at base including basal sheaths. Culms 150-550 × c.1 mm, wiry, trigonous, smooth below, angles scabrid above; basal sheaths dark grey-brown. Leaves < culms, 1.5-3.0 mm wide, channelled, scabrid on the edges, becoming triquetrous towards the tip. Inflorescence 15-50 mm long, a compound spike, with a few spikes distant below and ± spikes clustered above, greenish brown, rarely subtended by a leaf-like bract ± = inflorescence. Spikes c.5 mm long, androgynous, male flowers terminal. Glumes = or slightly < utricles, ovate, brown with wide membranous margins, midrib excurrent, finely scabrid in lower glumes. Utricles 3.0-3.5 × 1.5-2.0 mm, plano-convex, occasionally unequally biconvex, broadly ovoid, with short distinct nerves radiating from the base on the convex face, but smooth on the flat face, shining, dark brown; beak c.1 mm long, sub-pyramidal, light brown, margins scabrid, orifice bifid; stipe minute, c.0.2 mm long, very narrow. Stigmas 2. Nut 1.5 mm long, biconvex or subtrigonous, obovoid, very much narrowed towards the base, dull brown.

Similar Taxa

Somewhat similar to Carex secta Boott, C. appressa R.Br. and C virgata Sol. ex Boott but easily distinguished by the slender, wiry, loosely tufted growth habit, usually much denser spicate panicles with the males at the top, and by the ovoid, swollen long-beaked utricles that are smooth on one side but ribbed on the other.

Flowering

October - December

Fruiting

December - May

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and by the division of established plants. Although a wetland species C. diandra will grow well in most soils and moisture regimes. Does best in full sun. This species could benefit from some selection, for example, some wild forms have rather attractive glaucous foliage.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = c.60

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Nuts surrounded by inflated utricles are dispersed by granivory and wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).

This page last updated on 18 Jun 2015