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Carex albula, common name white sedge, is a species of sedge (in the Cyperaceae family). It is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand.[4]

Carex albula
Lectotype: AM AK2739-1
Conservation status
Nationally Vulnerable (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Carex
Species:	C. albula
Binomial name
Carex albula Allan[2][3]
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms[4]
Carex comans var stricta Cheeseman

According to Plants of the World online, it has no synonyms.[5] However the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network lists Carex comans var stricta Cheeseman as a synonym.[4]

Description

It is a densely tufted sedge growing from 250 to 350 mm tall, and may be buff-coloured, an almost bleached white, or green or red. The culms are smooth and 50-200 mm by 0.5 mm, often having a deep groove. The leaves are numerous and the basal sheaths are dark brown to purple-red. The terminal spike is male with the other spikes being female.[4]

It flowers from October to December and fruits from October to September[4] and the nuts are dispersed by granivory and wind.[6]

Distribution & habitat

It is found in the South Island from the Mackenzie Basin, to Waitaki and Central Otago, on alluvial terraces, and slopes and on river flats.[4]

Conservation status

The IUCN Redlist declared its conservation status to be of "least concern" (LC).[7] However, assessments under the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS), declared it to be "At Risk – Declining" (Dec) in 2013, and in 2017 to be "Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable" (NV).[1]

References

External links

• Carex albula New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
• Carex albula occurrence data from GBIF
• Media related to Carex albula at Wikimedia Commons

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