The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Carex subtilis

Etymology

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

Common Name(s)

Handsome Bastard Grass, Handsome Hook Sedge

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

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 - Data Deficient
2004 - Sparse

Qualifiers

2012 - DP, SO
2009 - SO

Authority

Carex subtilis K.A.Ford

Family

Cyperaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

UNCELE

Structural Class

Sedges

Synonyms

Uncinia elegans (Kük.) Hamlin; Uncinia sinclairii Boott var. elegans Kük.; Uncinia macrolepis Decne var. elegans (Kük.) Kük.

Distribution

Indigenous. South Island, from Canterbury south through Otago to Fiordland. Also recorded from Tasmania.

Habitat

A very uncommon upper montane to subalpine species of short tussock grassland, or shady locations under scrub and under low rock overhangs. Sometimes in open dry rocky ground.

Features

Shortly rhizomatous, spreading sedge form loose turfs. Rhizome 1-1.5 mm diameter. Culms 40-300 x 0.5-1 mm, erect, usually glabrous, occasionally weakly scabrid just below inflorescence; basal bracts dull grey-brown. Leaves 4-10 per culm, < or more or less to culms in length, 1-2 mm wide, soft, somewhat flaccid. Spikes 15-30 x 2-4 mm, cylindrical, ebracteate, female flowers about 10, close-set with lower ones usually lax. Glumes slightly < utricles, persistent, obtuse, coriaceous, straw-yellow with brown flecks and/or markings, or dark brown or brown tinged, midrib green. Utricles 4-5 x 1-1.5 mm, plano-convex, obovate-oblong, grey-brown with dark brown nerves, finely hispid on margins and both surfaces of upper half, beak tapering c. 1mm long, stipe scarcely narrowed, 0.4-0.5 mm long.

Similar Taxa

Closest to Carex parvispica K.A.Ford from which it mainly differs by the narrower leaves, spikes and more distinctly nerved utricles. In Carex subtilis the glumes are often dark brown or brown tinged, those of C, parvispica are uniformly straw-coloured. Carex subtilis is smaller with narrower leaves, the spike is narrow, utricles not or little divergent and with truly scabrid (sometimes sparsely so) margin, glume usually a bit less than utricle. Carex subtilis prefers to grow in drier shady sites than C. parvispica. Carex parvispica is larger with wider leaves, spike wider, and the utricles divergent when mature with an almost ciliate margin, glume = utricle, and prefers damp situations.

Flowering

November - December

Fruiting

November to June

Propagation Technique

Unknown.

Threats

Believed to be a naturally uncommon, ecologically sparse species. However it is poorly known from large parts of its reported range. Further survey to ascertain its exact status is much desired.

Chromosome No.

2n = 94

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 26 Aug 2015