Carex subtilis
Common names
handsome bastard grass, handsome hook sedge
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Sedges
Detailed description
Shortly rhizomatous, spreading sedge form loose turfs. Rhizome 1–1.5 mm diameter. Culms 40–300 × 0.5–1 mm, erect, usually glabrous, occasionally weakly scabrid just below inflorescence; basal bracts dull grey-brown. Leaves 4–10 per culm, < or ± = culms in length, 1–2 mm wide, soft, somewhat flaccid. Spikes 15–30 × 2–4 mm, cylindrical, ebracteate, female flowers about 10, close-set with lower ones usually lax. Glumes slightly < utricles, persistent, obtuse, coriaceous, straw-yellow with brown flecks and/or markings, or dark brown or brown tinged, midrib green. Utricles 4–5 × 1–1.5 mm, plano-convex, obovate-oblong, grey-brown with dark brown nerves, finely hispid on margins and both surfaces of upper half, beak tapering c. 1 mm long, stipe scarcely narrowed, 0.4–0.5 mm long.
Similar taxa
Closest to Carex parvispica K.A.Ford from which it mainly differs by the narrower leaves, spikes and more distinctly nerved utricles. In Carex subtilis the glumes are often dark brown or brown tinged, those of C. parvispica are uniformly straw-coloured. Carex subtilis is smaller with narrower leaves, the spike is narrow, utricles not or little divergent and with truly scabrid (sometimes sparsely so) margin, glume usually a bit less than utricle. Carex subtilis prefers to grow in drier shady sites than C. parvispica. Carex parvispica is larger with wider leaves, spike wider, and the utricles divergent when mature with an almost ciliate margin, glume = utricle, and prefers damp situations.
Distribution
Indigenous. South Island, from Canterbury south through Otago to Fiordland. Also recorded from Tasmania.
Habitat
A very uncommon upper montane to subalpine species of short tussock grassland, or shady locations under scrub and under low rock overhangs. Sometimes in open dry rocky ground.
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.
- 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 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: SO
Threats
Believed to be a naturally uncommon, ecologically sparse species. However it is poorly known from large parts of its reported range. Further survey to ascertain its exact status is much desired.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Uncinia elegans (Kük.) Hamlin; Uncinia sinclairii Boott var. elegans Kük.; Uncinia macrolepis Decne var. elegans (Kük.) Kük.
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November–December
Fruiting
November–June
Propagation technique
Unknown.
Other information
Etymology
carex: Latin name for a species of sedge, now applied to the whole group.
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.
CARSUT
Chromosome number
2n = 94
Previous conservation statuses
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.
- 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.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, SO, Sp
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, SO
2009 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: SO
2004 | Sparse
Regional conservation statuses
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Regional conservation status of indigenous vascular plants in Otago” Jarvie S et al. (2024) report.
Otago: 2024 | Threatened – Regionally Endangered | Qualifiers: DPR, DPS, DPT, NR, NStr, PF, Sp, TL
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 by Peter J. de Lange 17 August 2006. Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1979).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Carex subtilis Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/carex-subtilis/ (Date website was queried)