Slender flat sedge
Cyperus gracilis, Fam. Cyperaceae
A perennial sedge with a short rhizome and smooth, slender, four angled stems up to 30cm long and 0.5mm wide. Tends to sprawl.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Sedges, Rushes and allies |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Leaf: | Shorter than the stems, 0.5-1.5mm wide. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Yellow, Green |
| Flower description: | Solitary terminal spikes, up to 2.5cm in diameter, of two to nine spikelets radiating from the one point. Spikelets, 5-10 x 2-3mm with eight to 30 florets. Glumes have three to four nerves on each side and their sides and margins are pale green to yellow. Spikes subtended by three to four leaf like bracts that are much longer than the inflorescence. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Brown, three angled nuts. |
| Habitat: | Gallery (riverine or riparian) forest, littoral rainforest, rainforest, wetland. |
| Distribution | Queensland, New South Wales, Pacific Islands. |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia, Pacific Islands. |
| Notes: | Cyperus eglobosus, C. enervis and C. laevis are somewhat similar in appearance to C. gracilis and occur locally in similar habitats. The inflorescence of C. eglobosus is subtended by two or three leaf like bracts that are much loner than the inflorescence, the style is usually divided to the base, the glumes have two to three nerves and are whitish to pale brown, the nuts are ellipsoid, three angled and yellow brown. The inflorescence of C. enervis is subtended by three leaf like bracts, the lower one is very long, the style is usually not divided right to the base, the persistent style base bulges slightly, the glumes usually have two nerves with whitish sides and margins, the nuts are obovoid to somewhat bulging and usually reddish brown. The inflorescence of C. laevis is subtended by only two leaf like bracts and one of these appears to be a continuation of the stem, the glumes are nerve-less and frequently have a reddish brown patch on the side. The stems of C. eglobosus are three angled or terete, those of C. enervis are three angled and those of C. gracilis and C. enervis are gour angled. |
| Information sources: | Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia. |
