Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Cyperaceae Juss.
Genus
Ficinia Schrad.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Ficinia nodosa (Rottb.) Goetgh., Muasya & D.A.Simpson, Novon 10: 133 (2000)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Scirpus nodosus Rottb., Descr. Icon. Rar. Pl. 24 (1772)
  • ≡ Isolepis nodosa (Rottb.) R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. 221 (1810)
  • ≡ Holoschoenus nodosus (Rottb.) A.Dietr. (1833)
  • ≡ Scirpoides nodosus (Rottb.) Soják (1972)
  • = Ficinia guttata Endl. (1833)
  • = Isolepis monocephala Steud. (1855)
  • = Scirpus nodosus var. macrostchya Benth. (1878)
 Description

Rhizome short, 5–10 mm. diam., woody, covered with red-brown bracts 5–10 mm. long. Culms (15)–30–90–(120) cm.×1–2 mm., densely crowded on the rhizome, rush-like, rigid, erect, terete or slightly compressed, striated when dry. Lvs reduced to 3–6 basal sheaths, the uppermost 5–13 cm. long, brown or red-brown, the oblique orifice slightly dilated. Infl. an apparently lateral, solitary, hemispherical head, 0.7–1.5 cm. wide, of ∞, densely crowded, sessile spikelets; subtending bract continuous with the culm, rigid, erect, pungent, > infl. Spikelets 3–4 mm. long, ovoid, light brown. Glumes broadly ovate, obtuse, margins entire, ± apiculate, reddish towards the tip, lateral nerves conspicuous. Hypog. bristles 0. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut c. 1 mm. long, < 1 mm. wide, plano-convex to trigonous, apiculate, dark brown to black, shining.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2 as Scirpus nodosus Rottb.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Bibliography
Brown, R. 1810: Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen. Johnson, London.
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. [Not Threatened]
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. [Not Threatened]
Muasya, A.M.; Simpson, D.A. 2002: A monograph of the genus Isolepis R.Br. (Cyperaceae). Kew Bulletin 57(2): 257–362.
Muasya, A.M.; Simpson, D.A.; Goetghebeur, P. 2000: New Combinations in Trichophorum, Scirpoides, and Ficinia. Novon 10(2): 132–133.
Rottbøll, C.F 1772: Descriptionum et Iconum Rariores et pro maxima parte novas plantas illustrantium liber primus. Societas typographicae, Copenhagen.