Carex trifida, tataki or Mutton-bird sedge, is indigenous to New Zealand, and is found in the southern South Island, Stephens, Stewart, Chatham, Snares, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell Islands. Also present on Macquarie Island, in southern South America and the Falkland Islands. It is strictly coastal where it often associated with seal haul outs and sea bird nesting grounds, especially - as the common name suggests - muttonbirds (Puffinus spp.). Usually in open sites, very rarely found in canopy gaps within coastal forest. Extremely robust, compact, light green to glaucous sedge, producing tussocks up to 1 m diameter. Carex trifida has no obvious close relatives in New Zealand, and of the few it frequently associates with, none, except the Chatham Island endemic C. ventosa, have any gross morphological similarity. From C. ventosa, C. trifida differs by its distinctly emarginate rather than acute or truncate, chestnut brown rather than mostly colourless, with red-brown striae glumes. Although C. ventosa is often weakly glaucous it rarely is the dark blue-green colour usually seen in C. trifida. Carex ventosa is normally a forest plant and C. trifida prefers open coastal sites, rarely however, do their distributions overlap, and there is some evidence they form hybrids. It is an effective garden plant , and its deep brown flower spikes contrast well against blue-green foliage. It prefers full sun and a damp, well manured, slightly acidic soil but will grow in almost any conditions except deep shade  It will grow in cold, shade as long as it is not got overhead shading.  A beautiful and popular sedge, widely grown in New Zealand. It s not threatened, but very uncommon in the northern part of its range.