Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani
Common names
kuawa
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Sedges
Detailed description
Rhizome 3–8 mm diameter, horizontal, hard and woody, red-brown, with loose papery, grey, well spaced, scales, 20 mm long; roots numerous, fibrous, reddish. Culms 0.6–3.0 m, 3–10 mm diameter, crowded or distant on rhizome, terete with spongy pith. Leaves reduced to loose, grey-brown, papery sheaths at base of culms, the uppermost to 350 mm long. Inflorescence seemingly lateral, comprised of numerous spikelets in a cymose irregular umbel, primary rays 10–60 mm long, scabrid; subtending terete bract.
Similar taxa
Schoenoplectus californicus (C.A.Mey.) Palla is an aggressive weedy species that is somewhat similar. It reaches 4 m in height, and differs by the culm being triangular in the upper third rather the terete (in cross-section) for its entire length, by the pendulous rather than spreading spikelets and plumose rather than scabrid hypogynous bristles. Schoenoplectus pungens (Vahl) Palla differs by its consistently triangular (in cross section) culms, and sessile 1–3 spikelets. Overall it is a much smaller plant than either of the other two species.
Distribution
Indigenous. North, South and Chatham Islands. Throughout the North Island, In the South Island present in Nelson, Marlborough, Westland otherwise only around Christchurch and Lake Ellesmere. On the Chatham Islands known from one place—here it is possibly introduced. Otherwise found throughout the world.
Habitat
Coastal to montane (up to 300 m a.s.l.). Mostly in standing water, growing in brackish or freshwater systems such as lakes, ponds, lagoons, river and stream margins. Also found well inland around geothermal systems.
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.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – these interim threat classification statuses has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- 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 | Qualifiers: SO
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Cyperaceae
Synonyms
Schoenoplectus validus (Vahl) Á.Löve & D.Löve. In the past New Zealand plants have been erroneously referred to Scirpus lacustris L. and Schoenoplectus lacustris (L) Palla.
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November–January
Fruiting
January–May
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and the division of whole plants. An important and valuable plant for treating effluent and other polluted water, and so now widely used in artifical wetlands for this purpose.
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]
OBL: Obligate Wetland
Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands (non-wetlands).
Other information
Cultural Use/Importance
The culms were occasionally used by Māori along with the korari of the flax (Phormium tenax J.R.Forst. et G.Forst) to make rafts, and as a flooring in waka.
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.
SCHTAB
Chromosome number
2n = 42
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
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.