Flora of New Zealand Series

Dense green or red tufts to 1 m high. Stems often elongating to 2 m when mature. Female spikes c. 5, usually distant and pedunculate, erect, ± 3 cm × 4 mm, brown. Glumes red-brown with conspicuous paler midrib. Utricles usually almost nerveless and glabrous. Stigmas 2.

K., N., S., St. Damp ground; sea-level to montane.

Both C. flagellifera (C. lucida auct.) and C. testacea have greatly elongate fruiting stems and share the common name "trip-me-up". In some northern districts C. flagellifera is confused with the Australian C. longebrachiata but the native sp. has extravaginal not intravaginal tillering and narrower leaves, and the fruiting stems of Australian sedge do not elongate.

C. flagellifera is locally troublesome in grassland, at times forming communities, and was given the name "Glen Murray tussock" because of its prominence in the Waikato.