Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Centrolepis fascicularis Labill., Nov. Holl. Pl. 1, 7-8. tab 1 (1805)
Synonymy:
Holotype: in capite Van Diemen [Tas.], 1792, Labillardiere, FI n.v., isotypes B n.v., microfiche AD
  • = Devauxia billardieri R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. 252 (1810) pro parte
Lectotype: in paludosis prope Sydney, N.S.W., R. Brown, BM fide D. Cooke, op. cit. 38. isolectotypes MEL 535282, MEL 536057
  • = Centrolepis cuspidigera Rudge, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 10: 283 (1811) nom. illeg.
Type: fig. 1, t.12
  • = Devauxia longifolia Gaudich., Voy. Uranie, Bot. 419 (1829)
  • Centrolepis longifolia (Gaudich.) Kunth, Enum. Pl. 3, 489 (1841)
Holotype: in Novae Hollandieae ora orientali, N.S.W, Gaudichaud, P
Etymology:
From Latin fascicul (bundle) a reference to the habit.
 Description

Perennial cushion, 15–70 mm high. Stem internodes condensed and not discernible. Leaves spiral, appearing radical, spreading. Leaf-sheath 2–4 mm long, hyaline, with multicellular hispid hairs. Leaf-sheath auricles absent; aligulate. Leaf-lamina 8–20 × 0.3–0.5 mm, filiform, with an acicular apex, terete, a few multicellular hairs below, glabrous above. Uppermost leaf reduced to a membranous cataphyll. Flowering stems 8–65 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence an ovoid spike, 3.5–5 × 2–3.5 mm. Outer primary floral bract 3.5–5 mm long, ovate and contracting to a spreading, glabrous foliar point; covered with multicellular hispid hairs, hyaline margins ciliate. Inner floral bract, 2.5–4 mm long, ovate and contracting to a spreading, glabrous foliar point, covered with multicellular hispid hairs; hyaline margins ciliate. Primary bracts separated by an internode 0.5–1 mm long. Secondary hyaline scales present, 2/reproductive unit. Reproductive units/spike 7–9, all bisexual. Androecium 1 stamen; filament capillary, 2–4 mm long; anthers ellipsoid, 0.48–0.8 mm long. Gynoecium (2)–3–4 connate, superposed carpels. Styles stigmatic with simple papillae, crimson. Seeds 0.5–0.6 × 0.23–0.3 mm, oblong-ovoid, yellow-brown, striated.

 Recognition

Distinguished from all other centrolepids in New Zealand, except for C. strigosa, by the presence of hairs on the primary floral bracts. Distinguished from C. strigosa by a glabrous flowering stem and a more or less glabrous leaf-lamina with just a few hairs on the lower lamina. Also, C. fascicularis has fewer RUs/spike compared with C. strigosa.

 Distribution

North Island: North Auckland, Waitakere Ranges, Swanson Stream Catchment, Watercare Filter Station "Floc Pond".

Indigenous to Australia, occurring in six states: South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia (possibly introduced) (Cooke 1992).

 Habitat

Heathland, bogs; infertile soils

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Phenology

Flowering: Nov.-Feb.

 Notes

Known from one locality growing in open Leptospermum scoparium heathland on the edge of an artificial flocculation pond at a water treatment facility.

 Bibliography
Brown, R. 1810: Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen. Johnson, London.
Cooke, D.A. 1992: A Taxonomic Revision of Centrolepis (Centrolepidaceae) in Australia. Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 15: 7–63.
Curtis, W.M.; Morris, D. I. 1994: The Students' Flora of Tasmania. 4B, Angiospermae: Alismataceae to Burmanniaceae. St David's Park Publishing, Hobart.
Ford, K.A. 2014: Centrolepidaceae. In: Breitwieser, I.; Brownsey, P.J.; Heenan, P.B.; Wilton, A.D. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Seed Plants. Fascicle 2. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Gaudichaud-Beaupré, C. 1829: Voyage Autour du Monde ... sur les Corvettes de S.M. l'Uranie et la Physicienne. Vol. 10.
Kunth, K.S. 1841: Enumeratio plantarum omnium hucusque cognitarum, secundum familias naturales disposita, adjectis characteribus, differentiis et synonymis. Vol. 3. J.G. Cottae, Stutgardiae et Tubingae [Stuttgart and Tübingen] .
Labillardière, J.J.H. de 1804: Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen. Vol. 1(1). Huzard, Paris.
Rudge, E. 1811: A description of several species of plants from New Holland. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 10: 283–303.