Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Cyperaceae Juss.
Genus
Carex L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Carex erythrovaginata K.A.Ford in Global Carex Group, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 179: 32 (2015)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Uncinia laxiflora Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 17: 271 (1885)
Etymology:
The name refers to the reddish sheaths of the leaves of this species.
 Description

Densely caespitose, dark green. Culms 40–75 cm. × 0.5–1 mm., trigonous, strongly scabrid above; basal bracts dull reddish brown. Lvs 3–6 per culm, < or = culm, 2–3 mm. wide, strongly scabrid on margins and upper surface; sheath and basal part of lamina us. reddish pink. Spike 6–10 cm. long, female fls c. 10, lax, internodes > mature utricles, 5–14 mm. long at base of spike, 2 mm. long above; spike often bracteate with lowermost glume lf-like or setose. Glumes much < utricles, persistent, coriac., obtuse or lowermost subacute, green with paler margins. Utricles (5)–6–8 × c. 1 mm., plano-convex or biconvex, fusiform, very faintly nerved, cuneate below forming a stipe c. 1.5 mm. long and tapered above to a beak c. 2 mm. long stipe and beak green, remainder very light grey.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2. as Uncinia laxiflora Petrie]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [as Uncinia laxiflora Petrie] [Not Threatened]
Global Carex Group 2015: Making Carex monophyletic (Cyperaceae, tribe Cariceae): a new broader circumscription. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 179: 1–42.
Petrie, D. 1885: Description of new species of native plants. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 17: 269–271.