Uncinia lacustris
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Uncinia lacustris faces severe pressure from wetland drainage and agricultural conversion throughout its limited range in New Zealand's South Island. Invasive plant species, particularly exotic grasses and herbs, compete aggressively with this sedge in its specialized lakeside and wetland habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the specific moisture regimes this species requires for survival.
Habitat
This endemic New Zealand sedge inhabits shallow margins of freshwater lakes, wetland edges, and seasonally flooded areas in the South Island. It typically grows in nutrient-poor, peaty soils where water levels fluctuate naturally throughout the year.
