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]

Red-fruit saw-sedge
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
Binomial name
Gahnia sieberiana

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]

References
  1. "Gahnia sieberiana Kunth". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 16 Mar 2013.
  2. Robinson, Les (2003). Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney. p. 290. ISBN 978-0-7318-1211-0.
  3. Wilson, Karen L. (2001). "Gahnia sieberiana – New South Wales Flora Online". PlantNET – The Plant Information Network System. 2.0. Sydney, Australia: The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  4. Hyland, B. P. M.; Whiffin, T.; Zich, F. A.; et al. (Dec 2010). "Factsheet – Gahnia sieberiana". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (6.1, online version RFK 6.1 ed.). Cairns, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), through its Division of Plant Industry; the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research; the Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University. Retrieved 16 Mar 2013.
  5. Walters, Brian (August 2010). "Gahnia sieberiana". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  6. Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (2002). "Ecology of Sydney Plant Species Part 9: Monocotyledon families Agavaceae to Juncaginaceae" (PDF). Cunninghamia. 7 (4): 695–939 (see p. 822). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-06-14.
  7. Braby (2004), p. 66.
  8. Braby (2004), p. 68.
  9. Braby (2004), p. 70.
  10. Braby (2004), p. 74.
  11. Braby (2004), p. 80.
  12. Braby (2004), p. 158.

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