scents the damp grassland margins
- Size
- Height: 30–60 cm
- Lifespan
- 5–10 years
- Diet
- Photosynthetic. Draws energy from sunlight. Obtains nutrients from moist, fertile soils in damp environments.
- Habitat
- Damp grassland, forest margins, stream banks and coastal areas. Prefers moist, fertile soils with partial shade. Tolerates damp conditions and moderate shade.
- Range
- Throughout New Zealand from Northland to Stewart Island. Most common in damp, open areas and forest margins. Also found in Australia and South America.
- Endemism
- Endemic
- Main Threats
- Habitat loss from land clearance is primary threat. Competition from introduced grasses. Climate change affecting wetland habitats.
- Population
- Populations considered stable but localised. Species common in damp areas throughout New Zealand. Threatened by competition from introduced grasses.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- native sweet-scented grass, safe to handle
- Conservation Note
- Endemic grass; widespread in lowland and montane habitats throughout New Zealand.
- Assessment
- NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
- Te Ao Māori
- In Māori tradition kāretu was one of most treasured plants. Sweet-scented leaves dried and placed among fine cloaks or kākahu to perfume them. Leaves also woven into garlands or hei worn on head. Scent believed to have spiritual properties. Kāretu also used medicinally. Name refers to sweet scent. Taonga or treasure of Māori world. Plant of damp places. Sweet perfume from forest.
Anthoxanthum redolens has a strong, pleasant, coumarin-like scent. Similar to freshly mown hay. The leaves are narrow and soft. Smooth texture. Scent is strongest when leaves are dried. Plant forms loose clumps of bright green leaves. Delicate, airy flower heads. Grows in damp, open areas. Often along stream banks and at forest margins. Rare and culturally significant.
The dried leaves were used as perfume. Placed among clothing to keep it smelling fresh. Leaves also woven into garlands or hei worn on head. Scent was believed to have spiritual properties. Kāretu is threatened by competition from introduced grasses. Which outcompete it in many areas. Also threatened by habitat loss from land clearance. Conservation efforts underway to protect remaining populations.
To find kāretu is to search damp forest margins and stream banks. Look for loose clumps of bright green leaves. Crush a leaf and smell. That sweet scent is kāretu. Perfume grass of Māori. It is a taonga. Treasure of the Māori world. Plant of damp places. Sweet scent in forest.
That is kāretu. Sweet-scented. Rare. Treasured. It carries on. For now.