The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Although it is not of great importance, I am curious as to whether anyone knows the background of why Carex flagellifera has this common name, or how this name got applied. I have an interest in that area, and would therefore be grateful for any enlightenment.

Like many vernaculars - we may never know - but I understood from locals I knew in the 1980s out there that it got its name because Carex flagellifera (or, really it and other 'trip-me-up sedges because C. testacea and the unnamed C. "raotest" are common there) was then locally common in that area following land clearance. To confuse matters further, in the same general area, Naike, Lake Whangape etc - locals call the noxious weed Carex longebrachiata 'Glen Murray Tussock'.

Thank you very much, Peter, that's as informative an answer as I think I'll get anywhere. As in the case of some other native grasses/sedges' temporary expansion, that explanation illustrates an intermediate, hybrid vegetation stage in changes from forest to 'native modified' to 'dominant exotic modified', which I find interesting (like Guthrie-Smith recounted in Tutira).

Some of the native sedges can also be invasive of established pasture - these include Carex testacea near Pongaroa, Carex albula near Alexandra (when not being sprayed) and Carex fretalis in the Catlins. There is also a species behaving in this way in South Westland for which I have not yet seen flowering material

Yes. A departure from the initial question of Philips but Carex comans is another one Mike that commonly naturalises and spreads in urban areas. Whilst Carex inversa is a major problem in many northern lawns.

Yeah, forgot Carex comans - its a species that is difficult to know what its natural habitat is as its mostly seen along tracks in farmland and in other disturbed sites. Only "natural" site i have seen it is a wetland at the end of East Cape. Agree re Carex inversa - luckily not one we get down here as a weed