Carex comans or Longwood tussock is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands, but is absent from Fiordland. It is usually found in coastal to subalpine regions, from sea-level to 1200m asl in damp pasture, damp places in tussock grassland, on river flats, and in free draining soils either in the open or under scrub or tall forest in relatively open sparsely vegetated situations. In Southland it is variously known as Longwood tussock or Tokanui tussock. It often naturalises in urban areas. A densely tufted, very leafy species that grows to 30-40cm tall with long flaccid red, yellow-green, or lime-green leaves that have distinctively curls tips. It flowers and produces seed at various times during the year. Once a year it should be groomed to keep it tidy, by combing out the dead growth and old seed heads. Great as a border plant in a garden or in mass on a bank. There are a number of differing forms that vary in colouration.