Red-fruit saw-sedge | |
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Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Cyperaceae |
Genus: | Gahnia |
Species: | G. sieberiana
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Binomial name | |
Gahnia sieberiana |
Gahnia sieberiana, commonly known as the red-fruit saw-sedge, is a tussock-forming perennial plant in the family Cyperaceae, endemic to Australia. It is a widespread plant that favours damp sunny sites. Many insect larvae have been recorded feeding on the red-fruit saw-sedge. It may grow over 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall.[2]
Gahnia sieberiana was described by German botanist Carl Sigismund Kunth in 1837.[1] It is one of the many species named in honour of the Bohemian collector, Franz Wilhelm Sieber.[2]
Gahnia sieberiana grows as a tall strappy tussock to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) high and wide, with rough flat leaves.[3] The leaf margins have tiny serrations that are sharp and can cut the hands of those handling the plant.[4] The tall black flowers grow in spikes from the centre of the plant and can rise another metre above the clump,[5] appearing in spring and summer. They are followed by shiny red or red-brown round nuts, which measure 2.5 to 4.0 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) long, 1.5 to 2.0 mm (0.1 to 0.1 in) in diameter.[3]
Gahnia sieberiana is found across eastern Australia, from Tasmania to North Queensland, as well as Malesia, from sea level to an altitude of 1,200 m (3,900 ft).[4] It is found on clay and sandy soils.[6]
Seeds appear to germinate after bushfire.[6] The caterpillars of the dingy grass-skipper (Toxidia peron),[7] montane sedge-skipper (Oreisplanus perornata),[8] silver sedge-skipper (Hesperilla crypsargyra),[9] flame sedge-skipper (Hesperilla idothea), golden-haired sedge-skipper (Hesperilla chrysotricha),[10] heath sand-skipper (Antipodia chaostola),[11] sword-grass brown (Tisiphone abeona)[6] and northern sword-grass brown (Tisiphone helena) feed on the leaves.[12]
For Australian gardens, Gahnia sieberiana has been suggested as a native replacement for pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana), which is a noxious weed there.[5] Cultivation is hampered by difficulties in propagation by seed. Clumps can be divided to make more plants.[5]