Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Cyperaceae Juss.
Genus
Eleocharis R.Br.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Eleocharis acuta R.Br. (1810)
Synonymy:
  • = Eleocharis acuta var. platylepis Hook.f., Handb. New Zealand Fl. 745 (1867)
  • = Eleocharis acuta var. tenuis Carse, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 57: 89 (1927)
Vernacular Name(s):
Club rush; Sharp spike sedge
 Description

Rhizome woody, 1–2 mm. diam. Culms (1.5)–5–50–(90) cm. × (0.5)–1–2–(2.5) mm. diam., us. crowded in distant tufts, ± erect, terete, striated; lower sheath dark red with an oblique orifice, upper sheath paler, closely appressed to culm, orifice us. truncate or rarely slightly oblique, with dark thickened edge and distinct mucro at back. Spikelet 5–25 × 2–5 mm., cylindrical, acute at tip. Glumes ∞, basal 2 sterile, shorter, broader and paler than rest, upper glumes ovate-lanceolate with hyaline tips. Hypog. bristles (6)–7–(8), some =, some > nut. Stamens 3. Style 3-fid. Nut c. 1.5 × 1 mm., obovoid, biconvex or plano-convex, pale brown, smooth or faintly reticulate; the small persistent style-base triangular, compressed, white or very pale brown.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Bibliography
Carse, H. 1927: Botanical Notes, with Descriptions of New Species. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 57: 89–93.
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]
Hooker, J.D. 1867: Handbook of the New Zealand Flora: a systematic description of the native plants of New Zealand and the Chatham, Kermadec's, Lord Auckland's, Campbell's, and Macquarrie's Islands. Part II. Reeve, London.