Carex testacea, speckled sedge or Trip Me Up is endemic to the North and South Islands, although uncommon in the South Island. It is found in coastal areas, lowland to montane forests, in sand dunes, coastal forest and scrub, dense forest or short tussock. Carex testacea belongs to a complex of allied species which include C. devia, C. raoulii, and C. flagellifera. Its habit closely resembles that of C. dipsacea, but it is best distinguished by its usually long trailing fruiting culms, narrow, mostly orange-red, or reddish-green, channelled leaves, and usually distant, pendent female spikes. It is morphologically closest to C. flagellifera (itself a species complex). From that species, at least in its typical form is differs by the usually orange-red to red-green, rather than yellow-green to dark green culms, and membranous, mostly light brown glumes bearing numerous fine, red-brown striae, rather than uniformly red brown to dark red-brown, subcoriaceous glumes. It flowers from September - December then seed heads develop from November - May (but may be present throughout the year). Carex testacea forms a densely tufted plant, 50-60cm tall with rather wide-spreading foliage, that has sprawling long seed heads, up to 2m long that can be trimmed if they become a nuisance. Its colour can vary from green to a light brownish green or golden-brown. The most commonly grown form becomes a rich golden-brown or orange colour when grown in an open sunny situation. This very handsome plant is very hardy and is a great border plant or ground-cover, and is great for coastal gardens.