Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Cyperaceae Juss.
Genus
Gahnia J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Gahnia rigida Kirk, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 9: 551 (1877)
Synonymy:
  • = Gahnia robusta Kirk, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 26: 261 (1894)
  • ≡ Gahnia rigida var. robusta (Kirk) Benl, 40: 206 (1940)
 Description

In dense robust tussocks, 60–200 cm. high from a very stout woody rootstock. Culms 4–6 mm. diam. Lvs up to 300 cm. long; sheaths dull pinkish brown, open, up to 5 cm. wide at base; lamina very harsh, scabrid right across the abaxial surface, margins strongly involute when dry, scabrid; lamina when dry becoming undulate for some distance above the transverse line demarcating sheath from lamina. Panicle rigid, 18–75 × c. 6 cm., with erect, stiff branchlets, primary branchlets up to 25 cm. long. Spikelets 2-fld, 6–7 mm. long, stalked, light chestnut-brown to dark brown. Glumes 6–7; 3–4 outer glumes 6–7 mm. long, empty; 3 inner glumes enclosing fr., brown. Stamens 4–5. Style-branches (2)–3–4. Nut 3.5–4 × 1.5–2 mm., elliptic-obovoid, us. light red-brown with a band of darker brown round the centre, or the upper half dark brown, occ. dark brown at base and tip and then almost black at the centre, tipped with a small scabrid point; endocarp transversely grooved within.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.

 Bibliography
Benl, G. 1940: Die Systematik der Gattung Gahnia Forst. Bot.Arch. 40: 151–257.
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]
Kirk, T. 1877: Descriptions of new plants. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 9: 547–552.
Kirk, T. 1894: On New Cyperaceous Plants. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 26: 260–263.