Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Carex cyanea K.A.Ford in Global Carex Group, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 179: 30 (2015)
Synonymy:
  • Uncinia leptostachya Raoul, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. sér. 3, 2: 116 (1844)
Etymology:
The name refers to the bluish colour of the leaves; from the Latin cyaneus, dark blue.
 Description

Densely caespitose, often wiry, blue-green. Culms 30–60 cm. long, < 1mm. diam., scabrid above, only faintly so when mature; lower basal sheaths dark brown, uppermost sheath bright pink above. Lvs (1)–2–3 per culm, < culms, us. c. 1 mm. wide and involute, rarely up to 2 mm. wide and flat, scabrid on the margins and upper surface. Spikes (4)–7–15 cm. × 2–3 mm., female fls c. 10–20, distant, internodes up to 15 mm. long at base of spike, decreasing to 4 mm. long above. Glumes < utricles, persistent, ± obtuse, subcoriac., or membr., midrib conspicuous, green, remainder hyaline, colourless or red-tinged. Utricles 5–7 × c. 1 mm., plano-convex, oblong, nerved on the dorsal side, scarcely stipitate, very slightly narrowed to a scabrid beak slightly < 2 mm. long.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2. as Uncinia leptostachya Raoul]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Declining]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [as Uncinia leptostachya Raoul] [Not Threatened]
Global Carex Group 2015: Making Carex monophyletic (Cyperaceae, tribe Cariceae): a new broader circumscription. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 179: 1–42.
Raoul, E. 1844: Choix de plantes de la Nouvelle-Zélande. Recueillies et décrites par M.E. Raoul. Annales des Sciences Naturelles; Botanique sér. 3, 2: 113–123.