The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Schoenus concinnus

Etymology

Schoenus: rush
concinnus: charming, elegant

Common Name(s)

none Known

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

Schoenus concinnus Hook.f.

Family

Cyperaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

SCHCON

Structural Class

Sedges

Synonyms

Schoenus nitens var. concinnus (Hook.f.) Cheeseman; S. moorei Kirk

Distribution

Indigenous. North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. Present also in Australia. S. concinnus has a peculiar distribution. In the NorthIsland it has been found amongst sand dunes on the Karikari Peninsula and near Whatipu and then is mainly known from the central ranges and Mt Egmont. In the South Island it is widespread in coastal or alpine situations. On the Chatham Islands it is strictly coastal.

Habitat

Coastal to alpine (up to 1200 m a.s.l.). In permanently damp, usually exposed and sunny situations. Often in coastal or alpine turf or along the margins of tidal streams, inland rivers, ponds and lakes.

Features

Rhizomatous, tufted seed. Rhizomes lignaceous, up to 1.5 mm diameter, loosely covered by large, membranous, overlapping scales. Culms 10-250 mm long, less than 0.5 mm diameter, bright green to dark green, wiry, erect, striated, unbranched, densely tufted or widely spaced along rhizome. Leaves greater than, equal to or less than culms, upper leaves alternate, rigidly setaceous, semi-terete, margins rarely scabrid towards leaf apex; basal leaves reduced to red-purple, grooved, mucronate sheaths. Inflorescence terminal, capitate with crowded sessile spikelets, subtending bract greater than inflorescence. Spikelets 1(-3), 3.5-7.0 mm long, 2-3-flowered. Glumes 5-7, dark brown to almost black with green median nerve, 2-3 lowest smaller, empty. Hypogynous bristles 6, usually > nut, yellow-brown and scabrid towards the apex, often branched and basally plumose with long white hairs. Stamens 3. Style Branches 3. Nut ovoid to elliptical-oblong, 1.5-2.0 mm long, yellow-brown, smooth, glossy, surface cells minute (appearing as dimples), angles scarcely thickened.

Similar Taxa

Schoenus concinnus has been treated as a variety of S. nitens (R.Br.) Hook.f. Both species are superficially similar. Schoenus nitens differs by its broader culms, less densely tufted growth habit, taller stature, inflorescences of 2-many spikelets, obtuse rather than subacute bright chestnut-brown rather than dark brown to almost black glumes, and grey-brown to red-brown rather than yellow-brown, smaller nut (1.5 mm cf. 1.5-2.0 mm long). Both Schoenus nitens and S. concinnus differ from the other rush-like species by having well developed leaves.

Flowering

October - January

Fruiting

December - May

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from the division of whole plants and from fresh seed. An attractive sedge that looks great in pots that are kept partially submerged and placed in the full sun.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = c.68

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 14 Aug 2014