Carex secta
Common names
purei, pukio
Synonyms
Carex virgata var. secta (Boott) Hook.f., C. paniculata var. secta (Boott) Cheeseman, C. appressa var. secta (Boott) 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.
CARSEC
Chromosome number
2n = c.70
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) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. 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. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. Found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands. Also on the main Chatham Island, though scarce.
Habitat
Widespread in suitable wetlands from coastal to montane wetlands.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
OBL: Obligate Wetland
Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands (non-wetlands).
Detailed description
Tussock forming sedge up to 1.5 × 0.8 m, mature specimens with trunk-like bases comprised of matted rhizomes, roots and old culm-bases. Culms 0.25–1–(1.5) m, drooping, trigonous, scabrid, basal sheaths brown to light-brown. Leaves 1.5–7 mm wide, light green to yellow-green (rarely dark green—then in heavy shade), equal to or longer than culms, drooping, channelled, margins and keel scabrid. Inflorescence a loosely branched, somewhat slender, drooping panicle 0.45–1 m long. Spikes pale brown, mostly clustered towards the ends of the slender branchlets. Utricles chestnut brown to dark brown, margins weakly winged, scabrid, light brown to brown, apex with a minute to distinct beak.
Similar taxa
C. appressa, C. sectoides, C. tenuiculmis and C. virgata. From C. appressa and C. virgata, it can be distinguished by its branched, drooping, paniculate inflorescence. From C. sectoides, by its smaller stature, and slender, longer, drooping inflorescence branchlets. C. sectoides is sympatric with C. secta at only one site on main Chatham Island. From C. tenuiculmis, it differs by its light green to yellow-green, rather than wine-red foliage, and larger panicles with more numerous branchlets.
Flowering
(September)–October–November–(December)
Fruiting
October–March
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 the division of established plants. Although a wetland species C. secta will grow well in most soils and moisture regimes. Does best in full sun.
Etymology
carex: Latin name for a species of sedge, now applied to the whole group.
secta: Much divided (panicle)
Where To Buy
Commonly cultivated. Sold by most garden centres.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange (10 August 2006). Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970)
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
References and further reading
Moore LB, Edgar E. 1970. Flora of New Zealand, Volume II. Indigenous Tracheophyta: Monocotyledones except Gramineae. Government Printer, Wellington, NZ. 354 p.
Thorsen MJ, Dickinson KJM, Seddon PJ. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285–309.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Carex secta Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/carex-secta/ (Date website was queried)