Scientific Name

Carex flagellifera Col.

Family

Cyperaceae

Common Names

bronze hair sedge, brown tussock, Glen Murray tussock, New Zealand sedge, orange coloured sedge, sedge, weeping brown sedge, weeping brown New Zealand sedge

Origin

Native to New Zealand.

Naturalised Distribution

Naturalised in Tasmania, but its distribution is currently limited to localised infestations in the Huon Valley.

Notes

This species is cultivated as a garden ornamental in the temperate regions of Australia, but it is regarded as an environmental weed in Tasmania because it has the capacity to invade pastures, native grasslands and woodlands. Within its native range in New Zealand it is also regarded as a significant weed of pastures.

New Zealand sedge (Carex flagellifera) may be confused with other New Zealand sedges (i.e. Carex buchananii, Carex albula and Carex testacea) and is also similar to several native species. These species are difficult to distinguish from each other when not in flower, however New Zealand sedge (Carex flagellifera) can usually be separated from most of the other species by its elongated flowering stems that often trail along the ground and can reach up to 1.8 m in length.