Carex litorosa

Carex litorosa, commonly known as sea sedge, is a tussock-forming species of perennial sedge in the family Cyperaceae. It is native to New Zealand.

Description

The sedge has an upright habit and can reach a height of but is more often smaller. It appears as a reddish to pale green coloured tussocks that have curly tops. The leaves are about as long as the stems and has a width of. They are curved on one side and flat on the other and are slightly serrated along the edges. The upright and cylindrical flower stems produce light brown coloured spikes. The plant flowers between October and December and fruits between December and April although the seed heads can remain for much longer.

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1889 by the botanist Liberty Hyde Bailey as a part of the Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club. It has two synonyms; Carex australis as described by Kirk Carex littoralis described by Petrie.

Distribution

It is often situated along tidal riverbeds that are sandy and in brackish to salty marshlands. Its range is in both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand and well as Stewart Island.