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  4. Machaerina sinclairii

Machaerina sinclairii

Machaerina sinclairii.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Machaerina sinclairii.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Whitianga, February.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Whitianga, February.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Erua.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 17/01/2009, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Machaerina sinclairii.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Machaerina sinclairii.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Machaerina sinclairii.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Machaerina sinclairii.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Machaerina sinclairii.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
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Common name

machaerina

Synonyms

Vincentia anceps Hook.f., Cladium sinclairii Hook.f., Cladium gahnoides Colenso, Vincentia sinclairii (Hook.f.) Hamlin

Family

Cyperaceae

Authority

Machaerina sinclairii (Hook.f.) Koyama

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.

MACSIN

Chromosome number

2n = c.30

Current conservation status

  • Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017

The threat classification 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) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website 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. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.

Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

2017 | Not Threatened

Previous conservation statuses

2012 | Not Threatened

2009 | Not Threatened

2004 | Not Threatened

Distribution

North Island only from Northland to the northern Rimutaka Range. Also recorded from Malaysia.

Habitat

Coastal to montane (up to 900 m a.s.l.). usually in seepages draining cliff faces where it is often the dominant vegetative cover. Although favouring sunny situations Machaerina is equally at home around cave entrances, and within tall forest along river banks, stream sides and steep gorges. Occasionally it colonises permanently damp sites within dense forest.

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).

OBL: Obligate Wetland

Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands (non-wetlands).

Features

Stout, leafy sedge. Culms 0.5-1.2 m long, 3-5 mm wide, smooth, laterally compressed flaccid. Leaves numerous, suberect, spreading with upper 1/2 to 1/3 distinctly flaccid, 0.3-2.5 m long, 10-35 mm wide, flat, smooth, lustrous, pale to dark green, tapering to an acuminate apex, margins smooth. Panicle 150-480 mm long, pendulous, much-branched; lowermost sheathing bract with ciliate mouth and lamina up to 30 mm long; branches in fascicles from upper sheaths. Spikelets numerous, 3-4 mm long, in small fascicles towards the tips of the branchlets, red-brown, 2-4-flowered, usually the lowest 1-2 flowers fertile. Glumes 5-7, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate to almost awned, scabrid-pubescent, lower 2-3 sterile. Hypogynous bristles 0. Stamens elongating after flowering, filaments bright red-brown. Nut (including beak) 2.0-2.5 mm long, < 1 mm wide, acutely trigonous, almost winged, fusiform, brown,. narrowed above and below to a prominent 3-angled beak and stipe each more or less = to body of nut in length

Similar taxa

Machaerina complanata is somewhat similar but has much narrower (4-8 mm cf. 10-30(-40) mm) leaves, and more open, less pendulous, erect to suberect, non-fluffy inflorescences rather than the distinctive fluffy brown more pendulous ones typical of Machaerina. The style base of Machaerina complanata is usually turgid, much shorter than the nut and usually inconspicuous while in Machaerina sinclairii the style-base is about the same length as the nut, and though rather narrow is quite conspicuous. Macaherina complanata and M. sinclairii have so far never been found growing sympatrically.

Flowering

September - December

Fruiting

November - April (but old inflorescences present throughout the year)

Propagation technique

Very easily grown from fresh seed and by the division of established plants. An attractive sedge that is now frequently available from most garden centres and plant nurseries. It does best in a permanently damp soil but is tolerant of full sub or shade. However, plants flower best in full sun. A beautiful plant to establish around ponds and streams.

Etymology

sinclairii: After Sinclair (c. 1796–1861). Colonial Secretary and naturalist.

Where To Buy

Commonly available from mainline and specialist native plant nurseries.

Attribution

Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (8 September 2006). Description adapted from Moore & Edgar (1970)

References and further reading

Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II. Government Printer, Wellington.

NZPCN Fact Sheet citation

Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Machaerina sinclairii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/machaerina-sinclairii/ (Date website was queried)

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