CYPERACEAE

Tall Swordsedge

 

0.6-2.2m 

Compact heads of brown flowers at the top of the stem, 16-80cm long. 

Nut 

Loosely tufted perennial plant with leaves up to 3.5m long, with a deeply sunken vein. 

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

 

On creek banks, swamp and lagoon edges and seepage areas, from sea level to 500m altitude. 

 

 

 

Very difficult to grow from seed- seed is slow to germinate and may have low viability. Seed is reputed to germinate very slowly if sown in dark and moist conditions. A combined heat-smoke treatment may be worth trying, possibly with older seed. Can be propagated by division over the winter months, but plants are slow to re-establish. Resistant to Phythophthora cinnamomi. Its long, soft leaves are used for weaving (modern.) Suitable below powerlines. 

Nuts small, grey-green when ripe, 2.5-3.25mm long and contained in dry seedheads. Some species retain seed on the plant for several years. Cut the whole seedhead with secateurs and allow to dry, beat against a hard surface to extract, being careful of sharp foliage. 

Smoke 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes