Saw sedge
Gahnia aspera, Fam. Cyperaceae
Attractive, erect perennial sedge with woody rhizomes and long scabrous leaves.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Sedges, Rushes and allies |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Leaf: | Long, linear, inrolled with scabrous margins. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Brown |
| Flower description: | Erect, rigid, dense, oblong to subcylindrical, 10-25 x 3.5cm, somewhat interrupted at the base, dark brown. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown, Red |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Red brown to dark brown, smooth, globular to ovoid, mucronate nuts, 5-6mm long. |
| Habitat: | Coastal dune, gallery (riverine or riparian) forest, grassland, woodland. |
| Distribution | Queensland, New South Wales, New Guinea, Melanesia, New Zealand. |
| Food source for: | Seed eaten by the red winged parrot. Larval food plant of the spotted sedge skipper, flame sedge skipper, varied sedge skipper, two spotted sedge skipper, green darter and the varied sword grass brown butterflies. |
| Toxicity: | |
| Origin: | Australia, New Guinea, Melanesia, New Zealand. |
| Notes: | Worthy of use in horticulture but very difficult to grow from seed. Aborigines pounded the very hard seeds to make flour. |
| Information sources: | Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia. |
