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  4. Oreobolus strictus

Oreobolus strictus

Springfield, Canterbury.<br>Photographer: Melissa Hutchison, Date taken: 19/04/2015, 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>
Deep Creek, Charleston.<br>Photographer: Melissa Hutchison, Date taken: 14/02/2014, 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>
Tutaki valley, Murchison.<br>Photographer: Melissa Hutchison, Date taken: 13/01/2019, 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>
Salisbury Lodge, Kahurangi National Park.<br>Photographer: Melissa Hutchison, Date taken: 18/01/2019, 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>
Oreobolus strictus.<br>Photographer: Mike Thorsen, Licence: All rights reserved.
Nenthorn.<br>Photographer: Mike Thorsen, Licence: All rights reserved.
Herbarium specimen: AK 289107. Photographed with permission of Auckland Institute and Museum.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 30/10/2007, 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>
Herbarium specimen: AK 289107. Photographed with permission of Auckland Institute and Museum.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 30/10/2007, 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>
Oreobolus strictus.<br>Photographer: Mike Thorsen, Licence: All rights reserved. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Oreobolus strictus.<br>Photographer: Mike Thorsen, Licence: All rights reserved. <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 names

comb sedge

Biostatus

Native – Endemic taxon

Category

Vascular

Structural class

Sedges

Detailed description

Perennial sedge forming loose green or yellowish-green tufts 30–120 mm high. Stems much branched throughout, creeping and rooting at nodes. Leaves appearing to be but not quite distichous; lamina narrow-linear up to 0.5 mm wide, abaxial surface convex, only the median nerve prominent, adaxial surface channelled, median nerve visible but usually only towards the flattened apex, both surfaces with abundant stomata; sheath 3–5-nerved, nerves often red, apices of sheath truncate or produced upwards and lobed. Inflorescence a single spikelet, rarely 2; mature peduncle < or ± = leaves in length. Glumes 3, red-tinged; the outer largest, foliaceous, the inner 2 shorter, more membranous, more or less equal. Hypogynous scales < nut, lanceolate, usually white with red markings, or pale brown. Nut 1.5 × 1.0 mm, light grey with a narrow, 3-pointed, pubescent, depression at the apex.

Similar taxa

Most likely to be confused with Oreobolus impar Edgar, from which it differs by its loosely tufted, creeping, rather than densely packed, erect stems, which root freely at the nodes; leaves with stomata on both surfaces; and hypogynous scales < nut in length. Oreobolus strictus differs from O. pectinatus Hook.f. by the loosely tufted, creeping habit, longer leaves that are not always arranged distichously; by the median nerve visible on the base of the leaf at the widest part of the lamina; and by the usually red tinged glumes.

Distribution

Endemic. North and South Islands from the Volcanic Plateau and adjacent axial ranges south.

Habitat

Coastal to alpine (up to 1500 m a.s.l.). Mostly alpine descending to sea level only in the west and southern South Island and Stewart Island/Rakiura. A common species of permanently sodden turf, cushion bogs, seepages and mires and poorly drained ground under low shrubs.

Current conservation status

The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.

  • Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

2023 | Not Threatened

Jump to previous conservation statuses

Detailed taxonomy

Family

Cyperaceae

Authority

Oreobolus strictus Bergg.

Synonyms

Oreobolus pumilio var. strictus (Bergg.) H.Pfeiff.

Endemic taxon

Yes

Endemic genus

No

Endemic family

No

Ecology

Flowering

October–December

Fruiting

November–April–(May)

Propagation technique

Easily grown from rooted pieces and probably from fresh seed. However, this species is best grown in a cooler climate or kept in a pot within an alpine house. it is very slow growing.

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). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]

FACW: Facultative Wetland

Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands (non-wetlands).

Other information

Where To Buy

Not commercially available.

Etymology

oreobolus: Mountain clump

strictus: From the Latin strictus ‘upright, stiff’

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.

ORESTR

Previous conservation statuses

The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.

  • Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

2017 | Not Threatened

2012 | Not Threatened

2009 | Not Threatened

2004 | Not Threatened

Jump to current conservation status

Regional conservation statuses

Otago: 2024 | Regionally Not Threatened

The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Regional conservation status of indigenous vascular plants in Otago” Jarvie S et al. (2024) report.

Referencing and citations

References and further reading

Moore LB, Edgar E. 1970. Flora of New Zealand, Volume II. Indigenous Tracheophyta: Monocotyledones except Gramineae. Government Printer, Wellington, NZ. 354 p.

Attribution

Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970).

Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.

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