Carex strictissima
Common names
bastard grass, hook sedge
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Sedges
Detailed description
Dark olive-green to red-green rush-like sedge, forming dense tufts. Culms 300–550–(700) × 1 mm, initially trigonous and scabrid but maturing as terete and smooth (except for just under the inflorescence). Basal bracts dull dark brown. Leaves much reduced, inrolled or flat, 1–2 mm wide, rigid, strongly nerved, scabrid on margins, midrib bright red. Spikes 30–100 mm long, subtended by a reddish filiform bract > spike. Female flowers 10–15, distant in longer spikes, internodes up to 14 mm long at base but decreasing to 3 mm toward apex. Glumes ≤ utricles, persistent, obtuse or subacute, green to light brown, tinged pink. Utricles 6–7.5 × 2 mm, plano-convex, nerved, light brown, often pink near apex, stipe and beak up to 15 mm long.
Similar taxa
A distinctive species perhaps most closely allied to Carex erythrovaginata K.A.Ford from which it differs by the unusual, erect rush-like growth form and by the usually inrolled, (1)–2–3, 1 mm wide leaves.
Distribution
Endemic. In the North Island known only from the Central Volcanic Plateau. In the South Island it apparently has an easterly distribution, being recorded from the Nelson lakes, Canterbury, Otago and Southland.
Habitat
Lowland scrub, swamps, lake margins and in damp clears within lowland forest.
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – these interim threat classification statuses has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT
Threats
Herbarium specimens indicate that this was never a common species. However, it is clear that it has declined over large parts of its range, and it is now very close to extinction in the North Island. The species seems to be threatened by habitat loss as a result of weed invasion and by animal browse.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Cyperaceae
Synonyms
Uncinia strictissima Petrie; Uncinia rigida Petrie non Boeck., U. rubra var. rigida (Petrie) Cheeseman, U. rubra var. strictissima Kuk
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
October–December
Fruiting
November–May (as the inflorescence is long persistent, fruits may be present all year round).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and the division of whole plants. Prefers cool, damp ground but once established will tolerate drought. Excellent in semi-shade.
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]
FACW: Facultative Wetland
Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands (non-wetlands).
Other information
Plant of the Month
This plant has been featured as a Plant of the Month – see Trilepidea: NZPCN newsletter for May 2011 for the full story.
Etymology
carex: Latin name for a species of sedge, now applied to the whole group.
strictissima: Very straight and narrow
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.
CARSTR
Chromosome number
2n = 88
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: DP
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: DP
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered
Referencing and citations
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.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by Peter J. de Lange 17 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.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Carex strictissima Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/carex-strictissima/ (Date website was queried)