Grey sedge
Lepironia articulata, Fam. Cyperaceae
Perennial sedge with a creeping rhizome and erect blue green stems. Stems are terete, hollow, transversely septate, 2-8mm in diameter and up to 2m tall.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Sedges, Rushes and allies |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Leaf: | Reduced to basal sheathing scales. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Brown |
| Flower description: | Solitary spikelet that appears to be lateral due to an involucral bract that looks like, and is continuous with, the stem. Spikelet is terete, 1-4 x 0.6-1cm, shiny brown to almost black. All year. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Smooth, brown, ovate nut. |
| Habitat: | Wetland. |
| Distribution | Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory, New Guinea, Melanesia, Malesia, Asia. |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia, New Guinea, Melanesia, Malesia, Asia. |
| Notes: | Grow from seed, sow seed in waterlogged soil. Cultivated in China for the stems, which are beaten flat and woven into mats and sails for junks. North Queensland Aborigines are reported to have harvested the rhizomes. |
| Information sources: | Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia. |
