Carex trachycarpa
Common name
sedge
Synonyms
None
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.
CARTRA
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, North West Nelson, Kahurangi National Park mainly in and around Mt Owen, Mt Arthur, Mt Peel and Mt Mytton.
Habitat
A calcicole of marble and limestone subalpine to alpine habits where it it is found within tussock grassland, herbfield, fell field, gravel and rock pavements, usually in and around small ponds, seepages or flushes.
Features
Grassy, distinctly tufted sedge arising from stout, shortly ascending, woody rootstock. Culms 70-300 x c. 1 mm, trigonous, grooved, mainly smooth though rather faintly scabrid below inflorescence; basal sheaths light brown. Leaves 5-7(-10) per culm, these less than, equal to or even greater than culm length, 2.5 mm wide, channelled, margins finely scabrid toward the apex. Inflorescence a compact head 10-15 x 7 mm, comprised of densely packed light or dark brown spikes. Spikes with 1-3 males at the top, lowermost 1-3 spikes subtended by a membranous, lanceolate bract whose mid vein is extended as a long scabrid awn; this sometimes exceeding the inflorescence in length. Glumes equal to or just longer than utricles, ovate, acuminate or occasionally awned, membranous, chestnut-brown to light brown, keel green, scabrid in lowermost glumes entire otherwise, margins hyaline, occasionally very broad towards glume apex. Utricles 3 x 1 mm, plano-convex, strongly nerved, dull, minutely papillose all over; slightly tapering to a beak c.1 mm long with scabrid margins and an oblique, bifid crura; stipe 0.3 mm. Stigmas 2. Nut 1.5 mm, light yellow-brown, plano-convex, oblong, smooth.
Similar taxa
The distinctive grass-like tufted growth habit, conspicuous leaf-like bracts subtended the densely packed spikes of the inflorescence, and the finely (minutely) papillose utricles distinguish this species from other New Zealand carices. In Vol. II of the New Zealand Flora series it keys out closest to the very different C. pterocarpa (see comments under that species).
Flowering
November - December
Fruiting
November - May
Life cycle
Nuts surrounded by inflated utricles are dispersed by granivory and wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Little known and not commonly cultivated. Plants grow well from fresh seed and by division of established specimens. Probably best kept in a pot and likely to dislike humid or wet climates. This plant is likely to prefer a free draining highly fertile soil.
Threats
Not Threatened. A narrow range endemic abundant within its few known habitats, and apparently secure in all of these.
Etymology
carex: Latin name for a species of sedge, now applied to the whole group.
Where To Buy
Not commerically available.
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
Citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Carex trachycarpa Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/carex-trachycarpa/ (Date website was queried)