Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Carex tenuiculmis (Petrie) Heenan & de Lange, New Zealand J. Bot. 35: 159-165 (1997)
Synonymy:
- ≡ Carex secta var. tenuiculmis Petrie, Trans. New Zealand Inst. 52: 19 (1920)
Description
Tussock-like perennial herb, always caespitose, often with short and spreading rhizomes, and not forming a trunk. Leaves 25—80 cm × 2.4—3.2 mm, ascending to spreading, channelled, soft, red or red-green, keel and margins scabrid. Culms 20—50 cm × 1.8—2.1 mm, glabrous and approaching triquetrous in lower part, scabrid and trigonous in upper part; similar in length to, or shorter than, the leaves; basal sheath up to 90 mm long, red or red-green, becoming straw coloured when dry. Inflorescence 80-140 mm long, usually with a single proximal branch, without subtending bract; spikes 1.5—15 mm long; upper spikes crowded ± sessile. Male florets distal. Glumes 2.1-3.0 × 1.9- 2.2 mm, shorter than utricles, ovate, membranous, persistent, acuminate, light-brown, with a straw coloured midrib, margins hyaline. Utricles 2.3—3.5 × 1.6—2.3 mm, broad or narrow, plano-convex, ovoid, turgid, light brown to brown, smooth, shining, nerves distinct at base; beak 0.5-0.8 mm long, entire or with minute crura; stipe 0.2-0.4 mm long; beak and upper part of utricle winged, with scabrid margins, cream to light brown. Stigmas 2. Nut 1.7-2.0 mm long, biconvex, ovoid to obovoid, light-brown. FL Nov-Dec; FT Jan-May.
[Reproduced from Heenan et al. (1997, New Zealand J. Bot. 35: 159-165) with permission from The Royal Society of New Zealand.]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Declining]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
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. [Declining]
Heenan, P.B.; de Lange, P.J.; Murray, B.G. 1997: Carex tenuiculmis comb. et stat. nov. (Cyperaceae), a threatened red-leaved sedge from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 35: 159–165.
Petrie, D. 1920: Descriptions of New Native Flowering-plants. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 52: 17–19.
