Carex silvestris
Common name
forest bastard grass, hook sedge
Synonyms
Uncinia silvestris Hamlin
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.
UNCSIL
Chromosome number
2n = 88
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
Brief description
Carex silvestris (Hamlin) K.A.Ford
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand, North Island (Pureora and the Kaimai Range south), South and Stewart Islands
Habitat
Lowland to upper montane forest. Often rather local and probably warranting listing as Naturally Uncommon/Sparse.
Features
Bright green, densely caespitose plants. Culms 200.0-400.0 × c.0.5 mm, glabrous; basal bracts light cinnamon-brown or yellow-brown, not shining. Leaves 4-5 per culm, ± = or slightly > culms, 0.5-2.0 mm wide, bright green, tapering to a long filiform tip, scabrid on margins and on upper surface towards leaf-tip. Spikes 35-100 × 2–3 mm, often bracteate with the leaf-like bract much > spike, female flowers c.10–20, internodes 3-5 mm long towards base of spike, 1-2 mm long above. Glumes much < utricles, persistent, ovate, acute or subacute, membranous, very faintly nerved, midrib pale green. Utricles 3.5-5.0 mm long, slightly < 1 mm diameter, plano-convex, concavo-convex or subtrigonous, oblong or ovoid-lanceolate, light green, rarely greenish brown, membranous, few-nerved or smooth, stipe c.1 mm long, narrowed above to a distinct beak 1.0-1.5 mm long
Similar taxa
Distinguished from all other species with persistent glumes by the glabrous culms and glumes which are conspicuously shorter than the utricles( see also Carex egmontiana (Hamlin) K.A.Ford)
Flowering
October - November
Fruiting
November - February
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and by division of established plants. Prefers a permanently moist, peaty soil but will grow in most substrates. Best in semi-shade.
Etymology
carex: Latin name for a species of sedge, now applied to the whole group.
silvestris: Of forests
Where To Buy
Not Commercially Available
Attribution
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.