Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Cyperaceae Juss.
Genus
Gahnia J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Gahnia xanthocarpa (Hook.f.) Hook.f. (1864)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Lampocarya xanthocarpa Hook.f. (1853)
  • ≡ Cladium xanthocarpum (Hook.f.) F.Muell (1875)
  • ≡ Gahnia setifolia var. xanthocarpa (Hook.f.) Kük. (1943)
  • = Gahnia ebenocarpa Hook.f. ex Kirk (1875)
Vernacular Name(s):
Tupari-maunga
 Description

Very stout, with drooping panicles, forming wide, dark green clumps, 150–350 cm. high, from a woody rootstock up to 3 cm. diam. Culms c. 1 cm. diam., up to 1.5 cm. diam. at the base. Lvs = or slightly < culms, not us. over-topping the panicle; lamina harsh, margins involute, ciliate just above the transverse line demarcating the sheath from lamina, becoming scabrid higher up with a few longitudinal rows of teeth just inside margin on abaxial surface; sheaths dull, light pinkish brown, glab., up to 4 cm. wide. Panicles drooping, 60–150 cm. long, very much branched, primary branchlets up to 45 cm. long. Spikelets 2-fld, c. 8 mm. long, , densely crowded, stalked, light chestnut-brown. Glumes 6–7; outer 3–4 empty, ± equal, 7–8 mm. long; inner 3 glumes smaller, 5–6 mm. long, red-brown, or green-brown below and red-brown towards tip. Stamens 4, bright red-brown. Style-branches 3–4. Nut 5–6 × 2–3 mm., fusiform, black when fully ripe, sts slightly grooved, shortly stipitate, with a light orange-brown, obtuse, pubescent tip; endocarp transversely grooved within.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Feb.–Mar.

 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. [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]