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  4. Uncinia viridis

Uncinia viridis

Mangatepopo (February).<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Uncinia viridis.<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>
Uncinia viridis.<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 name

Green Bastard Grass, Bastard Grass, Hook Sedge

Synonyms

Uncinia caespitosa Boott var. viridis (C.B.Clarke) Hamlin; Uncinia compacta R.Br. var. viridis C.B.Clarke

Family

Cyperaceae

Authority

Uncinia viridis (C.B.Clarke) Edgar

Flora category

Vascular – Native

Endemic taxon

Yes

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.

UNCVIR

Chromosome number

2n = 88

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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, Sp

Previous conservation statuses

2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon

2004 | Sparse

Distribution

Endemic. North, South and Stewart islands. In the North Island found mainly in and around the Central Volcanic Plateau and the adjoining main axial mountain ranges. In the South Island more widespread from Nelson to Otago and probably Southland. Said to be common on Stewart Island.

Habitat

Montane to alpine in wet hollows within tussock grassland and herbfield. Never common.

Features

Openly caespitose to shortly rhizomatous bright green sedge. Culms 20-250 mm long, usually < 1 mm diameter, glabrous; basal bracts dull yellow-brown to dark brown. Leaves 7-8 per culm, equal to or less than culms, 1.5-2 mm wide, channelled, somewhat rigid, curving downwards, coriaceous, bright green, glossy, scabrid on margins and undersides. spikes 15-50 x 3-4 mm, sometimes bracteate, female flowers 5-15, close-set, internodes 1-2 mm. Glumes > utricles, deciduous, ovate, subacute to acuminate, pale brown-green to light brown, membranous. Utricles 4.5-5 x 1.5 mm, trigonous, ovate, green to grey-brown, rather dull, smooth aside from prominent lateral nerves, slightly pinched below a 1 mm long stipe, and tapered above to a 1.5 mm long beak.

Similar taxa

Rather similar to Uncinia divaricata Boott in Hook.f. from which it is well marked by its bright green rather than yellow-green to brown-green foliage and culms. It also differs by its fewer flowered spikelets. Plants could be confused with U. caespitosa Boott in Hook.f. but that species has longer culms,broader dark green leaves and spikes with 10-40 flowers (5-15 in U. viridis). The utricles of U. caespitosa are 5-7 rather than 4.5-5 mm long and wider (1.5-2 cf. c.1.5 mm).

Flowering

October - December

Fruiting

October - June

Propagation technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and by the division of established plants. Prefers a damp spot in full sun. Dislikes excessive humidity and will not tolerant prolonged drought.

Threats

A naturally uncommon, biologically sparse species occurring in widely scattered, sometimes quite extensive populations.

Etymology

uncinia: From the Latin uncus ‘hook’, meaning hooked or barbed

viridis: From the Latin viridis ‘green’

Where To Buy

Not commercially available.

Attribution

Fact Sheet Prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 August 2004). Description based on Moore & Edgar (1961) - see also Lehnbach (2011) where this species is treated as a synonym of Uncinia rupestris.

References and further reading

Lehnebach, C.A. 2011: Re-evaluating species limits in Uncinia angustifolia, U. caespitosa s.str., U. rupestris, U. viridis and U. zotovii (Cyperaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 24: 405-420.

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): Uncinia viridis Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/uncinia-viridis/ (Date website was queried)

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