Isolepis prolifera
Synonyms
Schoenoplectus prolifer (Rottb.) Palla; Scirpus prolifer Rottb.; Cyperus punctatus Lam., Isolepis erythronegma Steud.; Isolepis globosa Buchanan;
Family
Cyperaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
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.
ISOPRO
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
Indigenous. New Zealand: North, South and Chatham Islands. Also Australia, South Africa
Habitat
Coastal to lower montane. Mostly in open, freshwater wetland systems - eutrophic or oligotrophic. Sometimes an aggressive weed in farm dams. Often invading poorly drained pasture and old cattle troughs. It is highly palatable to livestock which often wade out into wetlands seeking it.
Features
Culms 60–900 mm × 0.7–4.0 mm, in tufts, ± compressed, lax and soft, or narrower, terete and erect, leafless, bearing a single reddish basal sheath with dilated oblique orifice. Inflorescence an apparently lateral cluster of numerous spikelets, often proliferous with 1–4(-10) branchlets, 20–70 mm long, each sheathed at the base and bearing a further small head of spikelets; bract subtending inflorescence obtuse, < spikelets. Spikelets 2–10 × 1–2 mm, narrow-linear, cylindrical, green to light red-brown. Glumes 2.0–2.5 × c.1.0 mm, ovate- to oblong-lanceolate, subacute to very shortly apiculate, membranous, flecked with small, light red-brown striae, margins entire and keel pale brown or green, lateral nerves conspicuous. Hypogynous bristles 0. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut c.1.0 × 0.5 mm, c.½ length of glume, trigonous, sides convex between the slightly thickened angles, minutely apiculate and stipitate, creamy yellow, surface minutely reticulate.
Similar taxa
Similar to I. inundata R.Br. and I. distigmatosa (C.B.Clarke) Edgar. It is distinguished from these species by its usually hyaline yellow-green glumes flecked with minute red-brown stripes, and complete absence of leaves. From I. distigmatosa it also differs by the 3 rather than 2 style-branches, and trigonous nuts,and from I. inundatus differs by the shorter, broader spikelets and 1(-2) instead of 3 stamens. Most forms of I. inundatus have at least some true leaves, I. prolifer is always leafless.
Flowering
October - January
Fruiting
December - April
Life cycle
Nuts are dispersed by water and possibly granivory and attachment (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and by division of whole plants. Once established rather tolerant of a range of conditions but flourishes best in full sun in a permanently damp soil. An attractive pot plant but can become invasive in some situations.
Etymology
isolepis: From the Greek isos (equal) and lepis (scale)
Attribution
Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970).
References and further reading
Johnson, A. T. and Smith, H. A (1986). Plant Names Simplified: Their pronunciation, derivation and meaning. Landsman Bookshop Ltd: Buckenhill, UK.
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