Gahnia trifida Labill. APNI* Description: Tussock-forming perennial. Culms 55–100 cm high, c. 4 mm diam.
Leaves flat to inrolled, spreading, scabrous, longer than or equalling inflorescence; ligule narrow, papery; sheaths dark brown to black, dull.
Inflorescence erect, narrow, 30–70 cm long, with 5–8 nodes. Spikelets 1(rarely2)-flowered. Glumes 4–7, the 2–3 lowest shorter than the upper, dark brown to black, scaberulous, with apex long- to short-mucronate. Stamens 4–6; anthers 1.3–2 mm long excluding apical appendage c. 0.5 mm long. Style 3-fid.
Nut oblong to narrow-obovoid, rarely to narrow-ellipsoid, trigonous, 2.0–2.6 mm long, 0.8–1.0 mm diam., reticulate, shining, grey to black (a thin white covering sloughs off with age).
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: May occur on the far South Coast. It is known from near Mallacoota around the southern coast to SA, Tas, and WA. Typically fringing coastal saltmarshes, but occurring farther inland near saline and subsaline lakes and watercourses. Sometimes grows with G. filum in other States.
NSW subdivisions: SC
Other Australian states: Vic. S.A. W.A.
Text by K. L. Wilson (April 2012)
Taxon concept: Flora of Victoria vol 2 (1994)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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