Species

Oreobolus strictus

Etymology

Oreobolus: mountain clump
strictus: From the Latin strictus 'upright, stiff'

Common Name(s)

Comb sedge

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Oreobolus strictus Bergg.

Family

Cyperaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

ORESTR

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.

Structural Class

Sedges

Synonyms

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

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. A common species of permanently sodden turf, cushion bogs, seepages and mires and poorly drained ground under low shrubs.

Features

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 more or less = 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 x 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.

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.

Threats

Not Threatened

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

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.

This page last updated on 3 Jan 2014