Flowering stems. Photo: Don Wood, Carnarvon Station Bush Heritage Reserve via Augathella, Qld

Plants. Photo: Don Wood, Carnarvon Station Bush Heritage Reserve, via Augathella, Qld

Common Name

Flat Spike Sedge, Ribbed Spike -rush

Family

Cyperaceae

Notes

Perennial rush to 80cm tall. Flower stem flat to plano-convex, ribbed. Leaves reduced to sheaths at the base of the plant. Spikelet 10-40mm long, 2-2.5mm wide, pale to brownish, with 0 petals, narrow cylindrical, composed of many florets, at the top of the stem. Grows in water and in damp places. Rare SA. Vulnerable Vic.

Description and photo in G.M. Cunningham, WE Mulham, PL Milthorpe and J H Leigh (1981 and later printings) Plants of Western New South Wales pages 165-166

PlantNET description with line drawings and photos:  http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eleocharis~plana