The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Machaerina sinclairii

Etymology

sinclairii: After Sinclair (c. 1796–1861). Colonial Secretary and naturalist.

Common Name(s)

Machaerina

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

Machaerina sinclairii (Hook.f.) Koyama

Family

Cyperaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

MACSIN

Structural Class

Sedges

Synonyms

Vincentia anceps Hook.f., Cladium sinclairii Hook.f., Cladium gahnoides Colenso, Vincentia sinclairii (Hook.f.) Hamlin

Distribution

North Island only from Northland to the northern Rimutaka Range. Also recorded from Malaysia.

Habitat

Coastal to montane (up to 900 m a.s.l.). usually in seepages draining cliff faces where it is often the dominant vegetative cover. Although favouring sunny situations Machaerina is equally at home around cave entrances, and within tall forest along river banks, stream sides and steep gorges. Occasionally it colonises permanently damp sites within dense forest.

Features

Stout, leafy sedge. Culms 0.5-1.2 m long, 3-5 mm wide, smooth, laterally compressed flaccid. Leaves numerous, suberect, spreading with upper 1/2 to 1/3 distinctly flaccid, 0.3-2.5 m long, 10-35 mm wide, flat, smooth, lustrous, pale to dark green, tapering to an acuminate apex, margins smooth. Panicle 150-480 mm long, pendulous, much-branched; lowermost sheathing bract with ciliate mouth and lamina up to 30 mm long; branches in fascicles from upper sheaths. Spikelets numerous, 3-4 mm long, in small fascicles towards the tips of the branchlets, red-brown, 2-4-flowered, usually the lowest 1-2 flowers fertile. Glumes 5-7, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate to almost awned, scabrid-pubescent, lower 2-3 sterile. Hypogynous bristles 0. Stamens elongating after flowering, filaments bright red-brown. Nut (including beak) 2.0-2.5 mm long, < 1 mm wide, acutely trigonous, almost winged, fusiform, brown,. narrowed above and below to a prominent 3-angled beak and stipe each more or less = to body of nut in length

Similar Taxa

Machaerina complanata is somewhat similar but has much narrower (4-8 mm cf. 10-30(-40) mm) leaves, and more open, less pendulous, erect to suberect, non-fluffy inflorescences rather than the distinctive fluffy brown more pendulous ones typical of Machaerina. The style base of Machaerina complanata is usually turgid, much shorter than the nut and usually inconspicuous while in Machaerina sinclairii the style-base is about the same length as the nut, and though rather narrow is quite conspicuous. Macaherina complanata and M. sinclairii have so far never been found growing sympatrically.

Flowering

September - December

Fruiting

November - April (but old inflorescences present throughout the year)

Propagation Technique

Very easily grown from fresh seed and by the division of established plants. An attractive sedge that is now frequently available from most garden centres and plant nurseries. It does best in a permanently damp soil but is tolerant of full sub or shade. However, plants flower best in full sun. A beautiful plant to establish around ponds and streams.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = c.30

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 6 Dec 2014