Carpha alpina

Short description: Species of grass-like plant

Carpha alpina

Scientific classification
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Binomial name
Carpha alpina

R.Br.

Carpha alpina, commonly known as small flower-rush, is a tufted perennial sedge from the family Cyperaceae. It is found primarily in south-east Australia and both islands of New Zealand, but also in Papua New Guinea. [1]

## Contents

* 1 Description
* 2 Distribution and habitat
* 3 Taxonomy
* 4 References

## Description

Carpha alpina grows as a short rhizomatous tufted perennial sedge. [2] It has rigid, striated culms that are glabrous and can grow between 2-10 cm tall and 0.7-1.5 mm wide. [3] The numerous grey-green or red-green leaf-blades are stiff and flattened, with a yellow-brown sheath and a width ranging from 0.5-2 mm. [2] The inflorescence is made up of 1-3 loose clusters ranging from 1-10 cm long with singular or paired bracts slightly longer than the inflorescence. [2] The spikelets are between 8-10 mm long and arranged in clusters of 2-10. [3] The brown, acute and keeling glumes are separated into upper and lower parts, with the lowest 2 or 3 empty and half the size of the upper glumes. [2] The upper glumes are larger - 8-9 mm long, with a bristlelike glume above; the bristles are 7-10 mm long and red or brown in colour. [3] The fruit is a nut, 2.5-3 mm long, brown in colour and narrow-ellipsoid in shape. [4] The nut has a short stipe and is crowned by the rigid smooth or slightly hairy 3-5 mm long style-base. [4]

The flowerhead of a Carpha alpina sedge

## Distribution and habitat

Carpha alpina is widespread throughout the montane and subalpine areas of Tasmania as well as in mountainous regions of Victoria and New South Wales in Australia.[1] It is also found in New Zealand and Papua New guinea, primarily in mountainous areas. [1] Its habitat includes coastal to alpine bogs, mires, wet alpine and subalpine areas where it can colonize areas disturbed by environmental factors. [3] [4]

## Taxonomy

Carpha alpina was first described by Robert Brown after he sailed to Tasmania aboard the Lady Nelson in 1803.[5] It has some resemblance to the grasses of the Rytidosperma genus, however, the flat grey-green or red-green leaves, combined with the lack of lemma and palea on the flowers, and the distinctive stipitate nut; differentiate it from those species. [4]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Curtis, Winifred (1984). "New Species of Tasmanian Monocotyledons in the families Juncaceae, Centrolepidaceae and Cyperaceae". Brunonia 7 (2): 297–304. doi:10.1071/BRU9840297.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Carpha alpina". https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/e17ae8ac-0083-4770-8be3-50fd60a339b2. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Carpha alpina". PlantNET. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Carpha~alpina. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Carpha alpina". http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=1604. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
5. ↑ Moore, D.T. (December 2000). "Some aspects of the work of the botanist Robert Brown (1773-1858) in Tasmania in 1804.". Tasforests 12: 126.

Wikidata ☰ Q15581483 entry

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