Bunchy sedge
Cyperus polystachyos – Family Cyperaceae
Other common names: giant sedge, flat sedge, many-spiked sedge. Previous scientific name: Cyperus venustus Description: Perennial (sometimes annual), loosely clumping sedge, 0.6 m tall with underground stems (rhizomes). Leaves mostly arising from base of plant, rough to the touch, 200 mm long, 2–5 mm wide. Flower head (inflorescence) is borne on stems (culms) 100–
Value in wetland: • a valuable fast-growing pioneer species for bare, disturbed sand, loam or clay wetland margins, including areas subject to occasional tidal influence • d ense cover provides good habitat for frogs and invertebrates • d ense colonisation of disturbed areas reduces rate of weed invasion by competitive exclusion.
600 mm long, with 3–6 leafy bracts (involucral bracts) 20–100 mm long. Inflorescence consists of 3–8 stalks, 30 mm long, bearing clusters of 2–15 yellowish or reddish-brown flowers (spikelets). Fruit a reddish-brown to black nut 1–1.2 mm long. Distinctive features: Usually in dense stands, with distinctive rusty brown flower heads (inflorescence). The female flower parts (styles) are divided in two, unlike most other
Plant uses: • u sed as a filtering plant in constructed wetlands including swales, buffer strips and batters, creating better fauna habitat than turf species • r ecommend for investigation as a direct seeding dense cover for bare wetland margins • l eaves used for weaving mats and baskets • i ndicator of disturbance;
sedges, which are divided into three. Propagation: Plants can be propagated Habitat: Usually occurs on moist margins of
vegetatively from pieces of rhizome or from
wetlands such as swamps, lagoons and creek
seed. Plants often produce many empty
banks, usually freshwater but sometimes in
seeds. Viable seeds are often dormant. Seed
more saline areas such as saltwater couch
germination best using the ‘bog method’–
grassland. Often grows in distinctively thick
sown shallow in a waterlogged pot in
swards, particularly in previously disturbed
bright light.
areas. Often occurs along moist road-side ditches after grading and slashing. May grow under tree canopies in riparian areas.
WETLAND PLANTS OF THE TOWNSVILLE - BURDEKIN FLOOD PLAIN
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