Municipalities

Scientific Name

Baumea tetragona

Family Name

CYPERACEAE

Common Name

Square Twigsedge

Status

Height

110cm

Flowers

In red-brown, 2-20cm long flowerheads.

Fruit

Nut

Form

Perennial plant with leaves and culms square-shaped in cross section, and a spreading rhizome.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; Kentish; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar

Communities

Habitat Notes

Damp heath and sedgelands, marshes and the edges of creeks and lakes, to 500m altitude.

Site Tolerance

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

General Notes

Seed germination is difficult, usually propagated by division. Although large quantities of seed are produced by most species, results are usually very poor, and some species do not produce viable seed. Natural weathering of the seed for one year, followed by smoke or heat treatment (70 degrees C for 30 mins) may be successful. Reasonably drought tolerant once established. May be successful in direct seeding. Resistant to Phytophthora cinnamomi. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Nut greyish and wrinkled, 1.5-2mm long.

Seed Treatment Method

Bog method

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Seed has a 6-12 month after-ripening period, and leaching of tannins is required.

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Yes

Cutting Notes