Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Cyperaceae Juss.
Genus
Lepidosperma Labill.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Lepidosperma laterale R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. 234 (1810) – as lateralis
Synonymy:
  • = Lepidosperma laterale var. typicum Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 20 (85): 478 (1915) nom. inval.
Vernacular Name(s):
Sword sedge
 Description

In coarse tufts from a woody rootstock. Culms 50–140 cm. × 4–6 mm., rigid, laterally flattened with sharp, very minutely scabrid edges, to ± convex above. Lvs 3–5 mm. wide, similar to the culms but us. shorter, equitant at the base, margins, extremely minutely scabrid, tips acuminate. Panicle 10–20–(35) cm. long, narrow, rigid; branches distant, us. simple, erect; lowest bract with a stiff lamina 2–6 cm. long, upper bracts shorter, conspicuously mucronate, brown. Spikelets c. 6 mm. long, distant on the lower branches, fascicled above, 1–2–(4)-fld, only the uppermost fl. fertile. Glumes 5–7, ovate, acuminate, pubescent towards the tip, the lowest 2–3 empty. Hypog. scales 6, connate at the base, each terminated by a fine ciliate seta, up to ½ length of nut. Nut 2.5–3.5 × 1.5–2 mm., ovoid, ± trigonous, the angles thickened, surface at first wrinkled, becoming smooth at maturity, brown; persistent style-base hardly distinguishable from nut, glab., brown, with a small black mucro.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Bibliography
Barrett, R.L.; Wilson, K.L. 2012: A review of the genus Lepidosperma Labill. (Cyperaceae: Schoeneae). Australian Systematic Botany 25: 225–294.
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]
Domin, K. 1915: Beiträge zur Flora und Pflanzengeographie Australiens. Bibliotheca Botanica 20 (85): 1–239.