Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Cyperaceae Juss.
Genus
Oreobolus R.Br.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Oreobolus pectinatus Hook.f. (1844)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Oreobolus pumilio var. pectinatus (Hook.f.) C.B.Clarke in Cheeseman, Man. New Zealand Fl. 797 (1906)
  • = Oreobolus serrulatus Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 22: 492 (1889 [1890])
Vernacular Name(s):
Combsedge; Cushion sedge; Flat-leaved combsedge
 Description

Cushions 1–10 cm. high. Stems densely packed, much branched at base. Lvs invariably distichous; lamina 0.5–1mm. wide, abaxial surface convex, median nerve and 2 lateral nerves visible at widest part of lamina, adaxial surface channelled, only the median nerve prominent, both surfaces with abundant stomata; sheath 5–7-nerved, not lobed at the top. Spikelets us. solitary; mature peduncle us. > lvs. Glumes us. 3, us. light green with broad, colourless, membr. margins, the outermost longer, lf-like, the 2 inner ± equal, membr., occ. a fourth smaller glume is present. Hypog. Scales < nut, lanceolate, colourless at first, later red-brown to almost black. Nut slightly > 1 mm. long, < 1 mm. diam., light brown or often dark brown with a triangular, pubescent depression at the tip.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Cheeseman, T.F. 1906: Manual of the New Zealand Flora. Government Printer, Wellington.
Colenso, W. 1890: A description of some newly-discovered Phænogamic plants, being a further contribution towards the making-known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 22: 459–493.
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]