Species
Gahnia pauciflora
Etymology
Gahnia: after Gahn
pauciflora: few-flowered
Common Name(s)
cutting 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
Gahnia pauciflora Kirk
Family
Cyperaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Native
GAHPAU
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
Gahnia hectori Kirk; Gahnia scaberula Col.; Gahnia parviflora Col.; Gahnia exigua Col.; Gahnia multiglumis Col.
Distribution
Endemic. North Island, South Island (where confined to Nelson and Marlborough).
Habitat
Coastal to montane areas (up to 800 m a.s.l. - possibly higher). usually in forest, more rarely in seral shrubland situations.
Features
Tufted, bright-green to yellow-green perennial sedge. Rootstock short and stout. Culms 0.6-1.8 m, 2-4 mm diameter (but up to 8 mm diameter at the base), occasionally with a single longitudinal groove. Leaves more or less equal in length to culms; lamina narrow-linear, up to 12 mm wide, bright green to yellow green, undersides harshly scabrid, margins more or less involute, strongly scabrid; sheaths up to 110 mm long, dull brown. Panicle arising well above leaves, 0.45-1.20 m long, drooping, branchlets comparatively few, about 3-5, in more or less distant clusters at each node, up to 200 mm long; secondary branchlets with few spikelets. Spikelets 2-flowered, 6-9 mm long, not clustered, shortly stalked or sessile. Glumes 6-10, dark brown, rather stiff; the lower 3-6 empty, their size increasing up the spikelet; upper 3-4 glumes enclosing fruit. Stamens 4(-5). Style branches 3-4. Nut 5.5-7.0 x 2.0-3.0 mm, brownish orange or sometimes yellow-cream, apex black, fusiform, subtrigonous, often grooved, subacute, narrowed to the width of the more or less persistent style-base, occasionally scaberulous; endocarp transversely grooved within.
Similar Taxa
Distinguished from the other Gahnia species by the smaller overall stature, loosely tufted habit, panicles held well above the foliage, and dark brown glumes with the lower glumes much shorter than the upper glumes. The brownish-orange or yellow-cream nuts with dark black tips are also diagnostic, and when chewed impart a distinct vanilla flavour.
Flowering
September - January
Fruiting
Fruits may be present throughout the year
Propagation Technique
Can be difficult to cultivate. The seed is difficult to germinate, and plants resent root disturbance and usually die if transplanted. However, considerable success has been achieved growing plants and/or germinating seed in untreated saw dust. Despite these problems this is an attractive species well worth attempting to grow. Once established it flourishes in a range of conditions but does best in full sun in a well drained or only seasonally wet soil.
Threats
Not Threatened
Endemic Taxon
Yes
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
Life Cycle and Dispersal
Florets are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
This page last updated on 20 Nov 2015