Carex comans
Common name
sedge
Synonyms
Carex pulchella Bergg., C. cheesemanii Petrie, C. comans var. pulchella (Bergg.) C.B.Clarke in Cheeseman, C. comans var. cheesemanii (Petrie) Kük.
Family
Cyperaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Sedges
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
CARCOM
Chromosome number
2n = 40
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2012 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North, South and Stewart Islands.
Habitat
Coastal to subalpine. Usually in free draining soils either in the open or under scrub or tall forest in relatively open sparsely vegetated situations. It often naturalises in urban areas.
Features
Tufts very dense, very leafy, red, yellow-green, or lime-green. Culms 60-400 mm long, < 1 mm diameter, terete, glabrous, flaccid, occasionally much elongating at maturation of fruit and drooping to the ground; basal sheaths dull brown to purple-black. Leaves usually > culms, 0.5-1.5 mm wide, drooping above, concavo-convex, adaxial surface matt, abaxial surface more deeply coloured and shining, margins scabrid, tips rarely curled. Spikes 4-8, linear-oblong; terminal 1(-2) spikes male, very slender; remaining spikes female occasionally with a few male flowers at the base, 5–25 × 3–4 mm, distant, the uppermost 1–2 sessile, the lower on filiform peduncles, often drooping. Glumes (excluding awn) often slightly < utricles, ovate-lanceolate, usually emarginate to more deeply bifid at the top with a rather short scabrid awn, light brown or reddish brown with a paler midrib, membranous. Utricles 2.5–3.5 × c.1.0 mm, unequally biconvex to ± plano-convex, lanceolate, elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, reddish brown, pale straw-coloured at the base, obscurely ribbed on both faces, becoming smooth when fully mature, lateral nerves usually prominent, margins of upper half sharply serrate, narrowed above to a bifid beak c.1 mm long, with slender scabrid crura. Stigmas 3. Nut 1.5–2 mm. long, trigonous, ovoid to oblong-ovoid, dark brown.
Similar taxa
Carex comans is a very distinct species easily recognised by its densely tufted growth habit, narrow, concavo-convex leaves, slender light brown pedunculate spikes and the sharply toothed utricle-beaks with long crura. It is most similar to, and most often confused with C. albula Allan and C. fretailis Hamlin (see under those species)
Flowering
Throughout the year
Fruiting
Throughout the year
Life cycle
Nuts surrounded by inflated utricles are dispersed by granivory and wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and by division of established plants. Three colour forms exist, the red and green forms are the most widely cultivated. Often naturalises in urban areas and at times can become invasive. Tolerant of a wide range of conditions except permanently waterlogged soils. However does best in full sun in a free draining soil.
Threats
Not Threatened - often naturalised in urban areas
Etymology
carex: Latin name for a species of sedge, now applied to the whole group.
comans: Like a luxurious head of hair
Where To Buy
Commonly available from mainline and specialist native plant nurseries.
Cultural Use/Importance
Carex comans is very variable, and red and green colour forms are known. Some confusion exists around the cultivar C. comans cv. Frosted Curls which, at least in the original form is actually C. fretalis Hamlin. However, many plants now sold as that cultivar are now the green-form of C. comans.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange (10 August 2006). Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970)
References and further reading
Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II. Government Printer, Wellington.
Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 2009 Vol. 11 No. 4 pp. 285-309
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Carex comans Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/carex-comans/ (Date website was queried)