Carex pallescens L.
Tufted, slender, bright green, 30-65 cm high; rhizomes short. Stems sharply 3-angled, scabrid on angles below inflorescence. Leaves 2-4 mm wide, < stems, flat to ± channelled, soft, slightly hairy on abaxial surface; sheaths ± hairy, brown. Inflorescence usually of a few small approximate spikes at very end of stem, with longer leaf-like bracts. Male spike 1, ± 12 × 3 mm, fusiform, pedunculate; glumes ovate, subobtuse, ciliate at top, brown. Female spikes usually 2, ± 10 × 5 mm, upper sessile, lower shortly pedunculate, rarely a very long-peduncled spike half way down stem; glumes ± = utricles, ovate, acute to mucronate, brown with green midrib. Utricles ± 2.5 × 1.2 mm, narrow-ellipsoid, obtuse, biconvex, distinctly nerved, smooth, bright green, without beak or stipe. Stigmas 3. Nut obovoid, trigonous.
N. Wellington - Ohakune, Hutt Valley. S. Nelson - near Murchison; Westland - near Hokitika. Damp grassy places, rare. (Europe, temperate Asia, N. America)
First record: Cook 1953: 164.
First collection: Ohakune, V. J. Cook, 12.12.1948 (AK 59251-2).
