Schoenus lepidosperma

Common Name:

Slender Bog-rush

Family:

Cyperaceae

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Wannon, Grampians, Otway Range, Otway Plain, Gippsland Plain, Wilsons Promontory, East Gippsland (DEJKNPSTXWZ) also SA, Tas, Qld, NSW
Map - Australasian Virtual Herbarium

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

Swamp scrub, Tea-tree heath ¹

Flower Description:

Glumes straw-coloured to red-brown or blackish ²

Habit:

Tufted perennial to 60 cm high ²

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):

Two subspecies occur on the Prom. Schoenus lepidosperma subsp. lepidosperma has spikelets that are shorter (8-11 mm long as opposed to 15-22 mm long in subsp. pachylepis) and glumes that are 8-11 mm long (not 13-16 mm long as in subsp. pachylepis)

Images:

Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia MELU

Links to description of this species:

NSW Flora VicFlora

Conservation status:

Schoenus lepidosperma subsp. pachylepis is rare in Victoria

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¹ Ellis, M. (unpublished).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