Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Cyperaceae Juss.
Genus
Morelotia Gaudich.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Morelotia affinis (Brongn.) S.T.Blake (1969)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Lampocarya affinis Brongn. (1834)
  • ≡ Gahnia affinis (Brongn.) Steud. (1855)
  • ≡ Mariscus affinis (Brongn.) Kuntze (1891)
  • ≡ Machaerina affinis (Brongn.) J.Kern (1962)
  • = Gahnia gahniiformis (Gaudich.) A.Heller – as gahniaeformis
  • = Morelotia gahniiformis var. minor A.Rich., Essai Fl. Nouv.-Zél., 115 (1832)
  • = Gahnia arenaria Hook.f., Handb. New Zealand Fl. 306 (1864)
 Description

In scattered, harsh, lfy tufts, (20)–30–60 cm. high, from a stout, woody rootstock. Culms (1)–1.5–2.5 mm. diam., obtusely trigonous, not very scabrid. Lvs , much > culms, flat, curving, scabrid on the abaxial surface, 4–7 mm. wide, tapering to a filiform tip, which is curled when dry; margins scabrid, strongly revolute in dry old lvs; sheath very short compared to lamina, not demarcated from lamina by any transverse line but merely becoming broader, cream, with membr. margins. Panicle erect, rigid, (6)–9–20 cm. long, with short, ± distant branchlets subtended by rigid, scabrid, lf-like bracts. Spikelets 6.5–9 mm. long, narrow-lanceolate, shortly stalked. Glumes coriac., minutely puberulous, keel and margins finely scabrid; 4 outer glumes smaller, increasing in size, us. acuminate, 2 upper glumes much longer, acute, rigid; a seventh minute membr. glume subtending the uppermost sterile fl. Nut 2.5–3 × c. 1.5 mm., elliptic-oblong, red-brown to black and shining, with 3 longitudinal ribs, surmounted by a thickened, corky style-base which is very distinct in the immature fr.; ripe fr. retained on plant for a time by being entangled in the slightly elongated staminal filaments.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Cheeseman, T.F. 1925: Manual of the New Zealand Flora. Edition 2. Government Printer, Wellington. [as Gahnia gahniiformis (Gaudich.) A.Heller]
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. 1864: 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 Macquarie's Islands. Part I. Reeve, London.
Richard, A. 1832: Essai d'une Flore de la Nouvelle Zélande. In: Dumont d'Urville, J. Voyage de découvertes de l'Astrolabe. Botanique. Tastu, Paris.