New Zealand Transverse Mercator:
1502880E 5191915N (WGS84 -43.419357 171.80027)
Altitudes:
from 400m
Habitat:
Growing on very recent alluvial deposits (derived predominantly from greywacke), beside a braided section of the active river bed. Vegetation was otherwise sparse and dominated by fast-growing herbs (native and exotic) with more permanent sedgelands and grasslands between braids.
Microhabitat:
Site is dominated by open gravel river braids fringed by sedges (Carex secta, C. coriacea and C. buchananii) and grasses (Holcus lanatus and Anthoxanthum odoratum). There are rocky hillslopes supporting dryland shrubland vegetation (dominated by Coprosma propinqua and Discaria toumatou over Agrostis capillaris) a short distance away.
Notes:
A single emergent plant of Carex sp. was found. This sedge looked different to Carex buchananii growing nearby (which were smaller and more orange-red coloured). Relative to these ‘typical’ C. buchananii the Carex sp. specimen was larger (c. 1.5 x) and more olive coloured.
There was large amount of similar habitat nearby which was not checked. Legally protected by a QEII covenant, though subject to periodic (permitted) grazing by sheep.
Keys out to Carex buchananii. Looks like C. buchananii in the leaves and gross morphology (not colour though), in the utricles as well except they are larger than what the Flora II description gives. Could be something going on here with something else, but not with any of the other species mentioned [Carex coriacea, C. secta and C. buchananii] as they are not closely related.
K.A. Ford, 3 May 2019