Netrostylis capillaris
Synonyms
Chaetospora capillacea Hook.f.; Chaetospora capillaris F.Muell.; Cladium capillaceum (Hook.f.)C.B.Clarke; Machaerina capillacea (Hook.f.) Koyama; Tetraria capillaris (F.Muell.) J.M.Black
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.
TETCAP
Chromosome number
2n = 20
Current conservation status
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 | Qualifiers: SO
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Indigenous. Australia and New Zealand. In New Zealand present in the North Island from Te Paki south to about Taranaki and Hawkes Bay, and in the South Island recorded from the Nelson area and Westland.
Habitat
Coastal to montane. Usually in seral vegetation within swamps, peat bogs, pakihi, gumland scrub, on sand podzols, in dune slacks or in open ground within regenerating kauri (Agathis australis) forest. Sometimes found fringing burn pools in peat bogs.
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).
FACW: Facultative Wetland
Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands (non-wetlands).
Features
Tufted, tussock forming, rather gracile perennial herb. Rhizome short and lignaceous, up to 1 mm diameter, covered within membranous, red or pale brown, imbricate bracts. Culms 0.15-1.20 m tall, 0.5 mm diameter, glossy bright green to yellow-green, rather slender, wiry. Basal leaves reduced to red, mucronate, sheathing bracts; the uppermost up to 150 mm long, with a very slender mucro-like lamina, up to 5 mm long. Panicle 15-30 mm long, composed of 2-8 usually stalked spikelets; subtending bracts with a long lamina > spikelets. Spikelets c.5 mm long, narrow, dark brown or reddish, (1-)2-flowered. Glumes distichous, lanceolate, acuminate, with white membranous margins, the upper 1-2 pubescent towards the apex, the others glabrous, the lower 3-4 and the upper 1-2 empty. Hypogynous bristles 0. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut 1.5 x 1-1.2 mm, ellipsoid or oblong-ovoid, light brown with 3 white ribs, surface smooth, crowned by a pubescent, persistent style-base,as long as the nut but much narrower throughout.
Similar taxa
Most likely to be confused with Schoenus carsei Cheeseman from which it is best distinguished by the absence of hypogynous bristles (usualy 3 rarely absent in S. carsei), and smaller (1.5 x 1.2 mm cf. 2 x 1 mm) light brown nut bearing three prominent white ribs otherwise smooth, and crowned by a pubescent, persistent style base of equal length to the nut. In Schoenus carsei the nut is uniformly white and smooth, and completely lacking a persistent style-base. Schoenus carsei and Netrostylis have been found growing together.
Flowering
October - March
Fruiting
January - June (but fruits may be present throughout the year)
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and by the division of whole plants, although as with many cyperaceous plants, specimens resent root disturbance and can take some time to recover from transplanting. Best grown in full sun on a poorly draining clay soil.
Etymology
capillaris: From the Latin capillus ‘hair’ or ‘thread’, meaning hair-like or thread-like
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Attribution
Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970).
References and further reading
Barrett, R.L.; Bruhl, J.J.; Wilson, K.L. 2021: Netrostylis, a new genus of Australasian Cyperaceae removed from Tetraria. Telopea 24: 53-60.
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): Netrostylis capillaris Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/netrostylis-capillaris/ (Date website was queried)