Species

Carex carsei

Etymology

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

Common Name(s)

Carse's sedge

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 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2009 - At Risk - Declining
2004 - Data Deficient

Qualifiers

2012 - DP
2009 - DP

Authority

Carex carsei Petrie

Family

Cyperaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

CRXCAR

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

None

Distribution

Endemic. In the North Island known from near Lake Taupo, and wetlands around Tongariro National Park. In the South Island throughout in suitable habitats, though scarce in Canterbury, Otago and Fiordland.

Habitat

An sub alpine to alpine sedge of boggy ground, mires, and wet forest clearings.

Features

Rhizomatous sedge, forming dense, grassy swards in swampy places. Rhizomes 1 mm diameter, light brown or grey. Culms 2.5-89.5(-25) cm × 0.5-1 mm, 3-angled (trigonous) or compressed below, stiff, erect, hairless, enclosed for much of length by grey or cream leaf-sheaths. Leaves culms, 1-2.5 mm wide, channelled, grass-like, yellow-green, linear, narrowed to a subobtuse tip, margins finely scabrid (toothed). Inflorescence of 3-5 spikes, clustered together in a compact head, terminal spike male, small, unstalked, remaining spikes female, stalked, overtopping male 1-1.5 cm long. Glumes much < than utricles, broadly ovate, acute, membraneous, faintly multi-nerved, pale yellow-brown with a green midrib. Utricles 7-8.5 × 2 mm, plano(flat)-convex to subtrigonous, narrowly lanceolate, multi-nerved, light green to greenish-brown, hairless, tapering to a 3-3.5 mm long beak. Beak bifid, with a finely scabrid orifice. Stigmas 3. Nut 2 mm long, obtusely 3-angled, obovoid, glossy, light yellow-green.

Similar Taxa

Carex carsei is a very distinctive species unlikely to confused with any other indigenous or naturalised sedge.

Flowering

No information available

Fruiting

No information available

Propagation Technique

Easily grown by division and from fresh seed.

Threats

Carex carsei has very few recent (>1980) collections

Chromosome No.

2n = 36

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

 

 

Attribution

Fact Sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange (10 August 2006). Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970)

References and further reading

Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II. Government Printer, Wellington.

Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 2009 Vol. 11 No. 4 pp. 285-309

This page last updated on 18 Jun 2015