Carex klaphakei K.L.Wilson APNI* Description: Slender perennial, with shoots at 2–6 cm intervals along rhizomes. Culms 45–160 cm long, to 1.2 mm diam., smooth or slightly scaberulous.
Leaves with reduced flat blades to 7 cm long, c. 1.5 mm wide; ligule white- to brown-membranous, rounded, c. 0.3 mm wide.
Inflorescence 0.8–1.5 cm long, composed of a single spike or up to 3 spikes in a small cluster; lowest 1 or 2 leafy involucral bracts shorter than the inflorescence or rarely slightly exceeding it. Spikes androgynous, with upper male portion often half-hiddenb by the female portion, 6–10 mm long, 1–3 per inflorescence, few-flowered. Male bracts ('glumes') c. 4 mmlnong, pale yellow- to pale red-brown with acute apex and mucro c. 0.3 mm long. Female bracts 3–4 mm long, pale yellow- to pale red-brown, with acute apex and mucro 0.5–1 mm long. Perigynia (utricles) ovate in outline, planoconvex, thickened near base, strongly 8–10-nerved abaxially, not or faintly few-nerved adaxially, 5.5–7 mm long, 1.7–2 mm diam. in broadest part, green to yellow-brown, eventually grey-brown; beak long-tapering, more or less excurved eventually, slightly hispidulous on margins, with 2-fid or split apex. Stamens 3; anthers c. 2 mm long. Style 2-fid.
Nut narrow-elliptical to obovate in outline, with obtuse apex, plano-convex, 2–2.5 mm long, 1.3–1.5 mm diam., pale brown.
Distribution and occurrence: Known only from a few localities on Central Tablelands near Blackheath, Mt Werong and Penrose at 600-1200 m alt. Mixed with other native sedges and rushes in undisturbed permanent swamps on sandstone.
NSW subdivisions: CT
Threatened species: NSW BCA: Endangered
Text by Karen L. Wilson (1996); edited KL Wilson (Aug 2016)
Taxon concept: Karen Wilson in Telopea 6(4): 569-572 (1996)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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