Oreobolus strictus
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
Detailed taxonomy
Family
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
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.