Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Carex horizontalis
Species of sedge From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Carex horizontalis, known as bastard grass,[2] hook sedge,[3] or matua in te reo Māori is a species of sedge, endemic to New Zealand.[3][2] It is not a grass but a sedge.
Remove ads
Description
This species forms thick, dense tufts. The culms are from 10-40 cm, droop, and are hairless. There are 4-7 leaves per culm, and they are bright green, wide, soft, and channeled.[2][4]
C. horizontalis is distinguished from the very similar Carex minor by its dense, tufted growths, its slightly larger (1.5-2 mm wide) leaves, and its later flowering from October to November.[2]
Range and habitat
This species is found on the North Island, South Island, and in the Chatham Islands. It is found in forested areas, and at elevation from 300-1000 m above sea level in the North Island.[2]
Ecology
This species is one of many other species in Carex, which are collectively known for having hooked rachillae. This allows the spikelets to get caught on fur or feathers from animals, allowing them to hitch a ride on a moving creature in order to spread geographically.[5]
Etymology
The name "bastard grass" may come from the hooked rachillae, which are annoying and difficult to remove from clothing, hair, or skin.[6]
Taxonomy
This species has in the past been put into the genus Uncinia.[2][4]
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads