The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Morelotia affinis

Etymology

affinis: neighbouring, allied to, akin to

Common Name(s)

Morelotia

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

Morelotia affinis (Brong.) Blake

Family

Cyperaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

MORAFF

Structural Class

Sedges

Synonyms

Lampocarya affinis Brong.; Morelotia gahniaeformus Gaud. var. minor A.Rich.; Gahnia arenaria Hook.f.; Mariscus affinis (Brong.) Kuntze; Machaerina affinis (Brong.) Kern

Distribution

Endemic. North and South Islands from Te Paki south to south-west Nelson.

Habitat

Coastal to montane. usually on steep clay banks and hillsides in gumland scrub, shrublands and other regenerating mainly indigenous vegetation. Sometimes in pine plantations. Also colonising steep rock faces, gorges and boulder falls.

Features

Harsh, leafy tufted perennial sedge 200-700 mm tall. Rootstock, stout, lignaceous. Leaves numerous, >> culms, 200-620 x 4-8 mm, green to yellow-green (rarely dark green), flat, curving, scabrid on the abaxial, tapering to a filiform apex, this usually curled when dry; margins scabrid, strongly revolute in the long persistent dry old leaves; sheath rather short compared to lamina, not demarcated from lamina by any transverse line but merely becoming broader, cream, with membranous margins. Panicle erect, rigid, 60-300 mm long, with short, more or less distant branchlets subtended by rigid, scabrid, leaf-like bracts. Spikelets 6.5-10.0 mm long, narrow-lanceolate, shortly stalked. Glumes coriaceous, minutely puberulous, keel and margins finely scabrid; 4 outer glumes smaller, increasing in size, usually acuminate, 2 upper glumes much longer, acute, rigid; a seventh minute membranous glume subtending the uppermost sterile flower. Nut 2.5-3.0 x 1.5 mm, elliptic-oblong, lustrous red-brown to black, with 3 longitudinal ribs, surmounted by a thickened, corky style-base which is very distinct in the immature fruit; ripe fruit retained on plant for a time by being entangled in the slightly elongated staminal filaments.

Similar Taxa

Rather close to Gahnia J.R.Forst. et G.Forst. form which it is best distinguished by the smaller stature and by the distichous arrangement of the glumes. Some botanists regard Morelotia as indistinguishable from Gahnia, treating the New Zealand plant as Gahnia affinis (Brong.) Steud.

Flowering

October - December

Fruiting

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

Propagation Technique

Very difficult to cultivate. The seed is difficult to germinate and plants resent root disturbance, so usually die if transplanted. However, considerable success has been achieved growing plants and germinating seed in untreated saw dust. Although tricky this is a species worth persevering with, as it has an attractive form and once established is very drought resistant. It does best in full sun on rock or planted within a poorly drained clay soils.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 46

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 1 Jan 2014