Lepidosperma laterale

Common Name:

Variable Sword-sedge

Family:

Cyperaceae

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Wannon, Grampians, Midlands, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Gippsland Highlands, Wilsons Promontory, East Gippsland (CDEHJKMNPRSTUVWXYZ) also SA, QLD, NSW, Tas
Map - Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Distribution and ecological preference at Wilsons Promontory (if known):

Wet forest and lowland forest ¹

Flower Description:

Glumes red-brown to grey-brown ²

Habit:

Tufted perennial to 1 m ²

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):

Culms (stems) are flattened and to 8 mm wide, leaves are ribbon like. There are only a few spikelets and these are 4-8.5 mm long. The nut is wrinkled and a shining pale brown ^3,2

Images:

Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia MELU

Links to description of this species:

NSW Flora VicFlora

Conservation status:

Not threatened

References:

¹ Ellis, M. (unpublished). “A Field Guide to South Gippsland Flora”.
² Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. “Flora of Victoria”, volumes 2 (1994), 3 (1996) and 4 (1999). Inkata Press, Port Melbourne, Victoria
³ Meagher, D. and Kohout, M. (2001). “A field guide to Wilsons Promontory”. Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Vic.