Rautahi

Carex lessoniana is a robust wetland sedge found throughout New Zealand but only sporadically in the far south. It grows usually on the margins of peat swamps, or in very wet alluvial forests from coastal to lowland (rarely montane).
Carex lessoniana which has wide-creeping rhizomes forms green tussocks >1m in height and a spread >2m. The bi-fold leaves have scabrid (rough) margins.
Flowering occurs during October to December and the fruits appear during December to April on long hanging green spikes that turn brown. The seeds when ripe are dispersed by seed predation and by water