Carex secta Boott var. secta
Original localities: "Northern and Middle Islands; not uncommon in marshes".
Culms 25–100 cm. × 1–2 mm. Lvs 1.5–7 mm. wide. Infl. a loosely branched, drooping panicle up to 45 cm. long, with pale brown spikes mostly clustered towards the end of the slender branchlets.
DIST.: N., S., St.
Throughout in swamps from sea level to c. 900 m. altitude.
Var. secta is locally known as the "niggerhead" [Editorial note: used historically, no longer used as it is offensive.]. The "trunks" of matted rootstocks are very conspicuous. The laxly branched drooping infl. and smooth utricles distinguish C. secta from the related C. virgata.
CANTY 3321–2, Tauhei, H. Carse, Nov., 1923, are specimens of var. secta with more compact, erectly branched panicles.
