Species
Carex parvispica
Etymology
Carex: Latin name for a species of sedge, now applied to the whole group.
Common Name(s)
Sinclair's hook sedge, Sinclair's bastard grass
Current Conservation Status
2018 - At Risk - Declining
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
2012 - Data Deficient
2009 - Data Deficient
2004 - Sparse
Qualifiers
2012 - Sp
2009 - Sp
Authority
Carex parvispica K.A.Ford
Family
Cyperaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Native
UNCSIN
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 sinclairii Boott in Hook.f.
Distribution
Endemic. South Island in the east from near Tarndale, Malrborough south.
Habitat
low montane to subalpine in wet or boggy ground within tussock grassland. In Otago it is often found at the base of tors, stream banks, or in seepages.
Features
Blue-grey to dark green shortly rhizomatous, spreading, turf-forming sedge. Rhizomes 1-2 mm diameter. Culms 70-300 x 0.5-1 mm, erect, usually glabrous, though occasionally faintly scabrid just below inflorescence; basal bracts dull grey-brown. Leaves 6-9 per culm, blue-grey to dark green, < or rarely almost equal to culm in length, 1.5-4 mm wide, very stiff. Spikes 10-20 x 4-7 mm, oblong to obovate, ebracteate, male flowers obscured by larger surrounding female flowers; these 10-15 in number, close-set, internodes about equal. Glumes same length as utricles, persistent, ovate, obtuse or subacute, coriaceous, straw-coloured, rarely light greyish brown with abroad, pale green midrib, the central nerves thickened and conspicuous. utricles 4.5-6 x 1.5-2 mm, plano-convex, elliptical, coriaceous, grey-brown, nerved below and with a prominent lateral nerve, hispid on margins and both surfaces of upper half, beak and stipe scarcely narrowed, 0.5 mm long.
Similar Taxa
Very close to Carex subtilis K.A.Ford from which it differs by its much broader, rather stiff, blue-grey to dark green leaves, broader spikes and utricles. The utricles are more prominently nerved than those of U. elegans, while the glumes are invariably straw-coloured rather than dark brown or brown-tinged.
Flowering
October - December
Fruiting
October - June
Propagation Technique
Has been cultivated. It is easily grown but rather slow to establish. Fresh seed germinates easily and plants can be grown by division. Its exact requirements are not clear, though it dislikes humidity and will not flower in northern New Zealand without cold treatment.
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, 96
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