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  4. Sparganium subglobosum

Sparganium subglobosum

In cultivation.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 19/10/2007, 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>
Sparganium subglobosum.<br>Photographer: Kevin Matthews, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Sparganium subglobosum.<br>Photographer: Kevin Matthews, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Sparganium subglobosum.<br>Photographer: Bec Stanley, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>.
Sparganium subglobosum.<br>Photographer: Bec Stanley, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>.
Sparganium subglobosum.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, 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>
Sparganium subglobosum.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, 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>
Te Werahi Swamp.<br>Photographer: John E. Braggins, Licence: All rights reserved.
Sparganium subglobosum.<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

bur-reed, maru

Synonyms

Sparganium antipodum Graeb.

Family

Sparganiaceae

Authority

Sparganium subglobosum Morong

Flora category

Vascular – Native

Endemic taxon

No

Endemic genus

No

Endemic family

No

Structural class

Herbs - Monocots

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.

SPASUB

Chromosome number

2n = c.30

Current conservation status

  • Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017

The conservation 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). 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.

2012 | Not Threatened

Previous conservation statuses

2009 | Not Threatened

2004 | Not Threatened

Distribution

Indigenous. North and South Islands. Present throughout the North Island though often scarce over large parts of this range. In the South Island very uncommon, known from Nelson, Marlborough, north Westland and from the Canterbury Plains. Also in Australia.

Habitat

Coastal to lowland (up to 400 m a.s.l.). Usually an emergent in shallow water, often on the margins of ponds, lakes and slow flowing streams. Also found in fens, and within the lagg zone of acidic bog systems. Usually preferring open sites, though sometimes found under Willows (Salix L. spp.) in moderately heavy shade.

Features

Glabrous, summer-green, rhizomatous, perennial herb of aquatic or fertile swamps. Rhizomes ascending, long and slender. Stems usually partially submerged in water, silt, mud or peat. Plants at flowering up to 1 m tall. Leaves most arising from base, somewhat spongy to firmly fleshy; 0.3-1 m tall, up to 10 mm wide, more or less erect; sheathing base channelled; lamina dark green, green to yellow green, linear to narrow linear, deltoid to subrhomboid in cross-section, longitudinal nerves distinct; incomplete cross walls occasionally evident apex obtuse to subacute. Peduncle up to 2 mm diameter, usually shorted than leaves; lower bracts foliaceous, long, often with basal third to one half clasping peduncle. Inflorescence simple or sparingly branched; main axis bearing up to 20 globose capitula; lower 1-6 female, rest male; lateral axis often bearing only male capitula, sometimes with up to 2 female capitula below; capitula sessile and either strictly axillary or without bracts. Flowers white. Male capitula up to 15 mm diameter, flowers numerous; stamens 3 mm long, filaments much > perianth; anthers conspicuous, white, oblong. basifixed, up to 3 times as long as broad. Female capitula to 18 mm diameter, flowers up to 60; perianth scales 4-8, the inner ones smaller; ovary 4 mm long, sessile, narrowly fusiform, unilocular, ovule solitary, pendulous; style short; stigma oval, c.1/2 style-length. Fruit 6 x 3 mm, dry, indehiscent, externally hard, internal spongy; dark green to yellow-green, sessile, obovoid, style base forming a hard, prolonged beak.

Similar taxa

None. The summer-green, soft, bright to dark green, linear leaves which are distinctly deltoid to subrhomboid in cross-section; and the simple to few-branched inflorescence bearing distinctive globose, many-flowered capitula, and/or globose spiky fruits are highly diagnostic of this species

Flowering

September - April

Flower colours

White

Fruiting

November - May

Propagation technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and by division of established plants. Best grown in full sun with the roost permanently submerged. An excellent plant for a shallow pond or slow flowing stream. However, can be grown in partially submerged pots.

Etymology

subglobosum: From the Latin sub- ‘somewhat’ or ‘not quite’ and globosus ‘globe shaped’, i.e. nearly spherical

Where To Buy

Not commercially available

Attribution

Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970).

References and further reading

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

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