Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Cyperaceae Juss.
Genus
Isolepis R.Br.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Isolepis habra (Edgar) Soják, 148: 194 (1980 [1979])
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Scirpus habrus Edgar, New Zealand J. Bot. 4: 199 (1966)
 Description

Slender, close-packed tufts from a shortly creeping rhizome. Culms (5)–10–30 cm. long, slightly < 0.5 mm. diam., soft and us. flaccid; basal bracts light reddish brown. Lvs 1–3–(4) per culm, < culm, c. 0.5 mm. wide; sheaths often tinged with red-purple. Infl. apparently lateral, of 1–3 ovate spikelets, occ. proliferous; subtending bract up to 6 times length of spikelets. Spikelets 2.5–4 × 2–3 mm., varying in colour from pale green to dark red-purple, almost black. Glumes 1–2 mm. long, ovate-elliptical, acute, keel green, prominent, often slightly excurrent, sides wholly cream, or with red-purple markings to almost entirely dark red-purple, but then often with pale cream nerves. Hypog. bristles 0. Stamens occ. 3, but us. 2 in lower glumes, us. 1 in upper glumes; very rarely 1 in all glumes. Style-branches 3. Nut 1–1.5 mm. long, slightly > 0.5 mm. wide, obovate-elliptical, trigonous with angles slightly thickened, cream to occ. light brown, minutely stipitate and apiculate.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-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. [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]
Edgar, E. 1966: Two new species of Scirpus sect. Isolepis. New Zealand Journal of Botany 4: 196–200.
Muasya, A.M.; Simpson, D.A. 2002: A monograph of the genus Isolepis R.Br. (Cyperaceae). Kew Bulletin 57(2): 257–362.
Soják, J. 1979: Fragmenta phytotaxonomica et nomenclatorica. 2. Casopis Narodniho Musea. Oddil Prirodovedny. Prague 148: 193–209.