Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Cyperaceae Juss.
Genus
Isolepis R.Br.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Isolepis prolifera (Rottb.) R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. 223 (1810) – as prolifer
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Scirpus prolifer Rottb. (1772)
  • = Cyperus punctatus Lam. (1791)
  • = Isolepis erythronegma Steud. (1855)
  • = Isolepis globosa Buchanan, Trans. & Proc. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 3: 211 (1870 [1871])
 Description

Culms (6)–25–60–(90) cm.×(0.7)–1–3–(4) mm., in tufts, ± compressed, lax and soft, or narrower, terete and erect, lfless, bearing a single reddish basal sheath with dilated oblique orifice. Infl. an apparently lateral cluster of ∞ spikelets, often proliferous with 1–4–(10) branchlets, 2–7 cm. long, each sheathed at the base and bearing a further small head of spikelets; bract subtending infl. obtuse, < spikelets. Spikelets 2–10 × 1–2 mm., narrow-linear, cylindrical, green to light red-brown. Glumes 2–2.5 × c. 1 mm., ovate- to oblong-lanceolate, subacute to very shortly apiculate, membr., flecked with small, light red-brown striae, margins entire and keel pale brown or green, lateral nerves conspicuous. Hypog. bristles 0. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut c. 1 × 0.5 mm., c. ½ length of glume, trigonous, sides convex between the slightly thickened angles, minutely apiculate and stipitate, creamy yellow, surface minutely reticulate.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Bibliography
Brown, R. 1810: Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen. Johnson, London.
Buchanan, J. 1871 ("1870"): On some New Species and Varieties of New Zealand Plants. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 3: 208–212.
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]
Muasya, A.M.; Simpson, D.A. 2002: A monograph of the genus Isolepis R.Br. (Cyperaceae). Kew Bulletin 57(2): 257–362.
Wilson, K.L. 1981: A synopsis of the genus Scirpus sens. lat. (Cyperaceae) in Australia. Telopea 2(2): 153–172.