Gahnia pauciflora
Common name
cutting sedge
Synonyms
Gahnia hectori Kirk; Gahnia scaberula Col.; Gahnia parviflora Col.; Gahnia exigua Col.; Gahnia multiglumis Col.
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.
GAHPAU
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
Distribution
Endemic. North Island, South Island (where confined to Nelson and Marlborough).
Habitat
Coastal to montane areas (up to 800 m a.s.l. - possibly higher). usually in forest, more rarely in seral shrubland situations.
Features
Tufted, bright-green to yellow-green perennial sedge. Rootstock short and stout. Culms 0.6-1.8 m, 2-4 mm diameter (but up to 8 mm diameter at the base), occasionally with a single longitudinal groove. Leaves more or less equal in length to culms; lamina narrow-linear, up to 12 mm wide, bright green to yellow green, undersides harshly scabrid, margins more or less involute, strongly scabrid; sheaths up to 110 mm long, dull brown. Panicle arising well above leaves, 0.45-1.20 m long, drooping, branchlets comparatively few, about 3-5, in more or less distant clusters at each node, up to 200 mm long; secondary branchlets with few spikelets. Spikelets 2-flowered, 6-9 mm long, not clustered, shortly stalked or sessile. Glumes 6-10, dark brown, rather stiff; the lower 3-6 empty, their size increasing up the spikelet; upper 3-4 glumes enclosing fruit. Stamens 4(-5). Style branches 3-4. Nut 5.5-7.0 x 2.0-3.0 mm, brownish orange or sometimes yellow-cream, apex black, fusiform, subtrigonous, often grooved, subacute, narrowed to the width of the more or less persistent style-base, occasionally scaberulous; endocarp transversely grooved within.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from the other Gahnia species by the smaller overall stature, loosely tufted habit, panicles held well above the foliage, and dark brown glumes with the lower glumes much shorter than the upper glumes. The brownish-orange or yellow-cream nuts with dark black tips are also diagnostic, and when chewed impart a distinct vanilla flavour.
Flowering
September - January
Fruiting
Fruits may be present throughout the year
Life cycle
Florets are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Can be difficult to cultivate. The seed is difficult to germinate, and plants resent root disturbance and usually die if transplanted. However, considerable success has been achieved growing plants and/or germinating seed in untreated saw dust. Despite these problems this is an attractive species well worth attempting to grow. Once established it flourishes in a range of conditions but does best in full sun in a well drained or only seasonally wet soil.
Etymology
gahnia: After Gahn
pauciflora: Few-flowered
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange (30 October 2005). 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 11: 285-309
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Gahnia pauciflora Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/gahnia-pauciflora/ (Date website was queried)