Lepidosperma prospectum G.T.Plunkett & R.L.Barrett APNI* Description: Large caespitose perennial 0.6–1.2 m high, 0.4–1.5 m across. Rhizomes spreading, to at least 30 cm long. Culms 65–115 cm long, 5.3–7.9 mm wide; 0.9–2.2 mm thick, biconvex to planoconvex, striate or smooth, not grooved, margins scabrous, marginal hairs continuous along blade, antrorse, evenly spaced, not resinous, faces glabrous. Culms longer than leaves, culm to leaf ratio ± 0.9.
Leaves equitant, spreading at 10–20 degrees in individual ramets, 44–98 cm long. Leaf sheath 6–13 cm long, mid-brown, or dark brown to almost black, not conspicuously resinous, leaf sheath margins translucent, glabrous, smooth or scabrous, face glabrous. Ligule with a free limb, acuminate, glabrous or scabrous. Leaf lamina well-developed, (25–)38–87 cm long, 3.8–7.4 mm wide, 0.3–0.7 mm thick, linear, biconvex to concavo-convex, coarsely or finely striate, not deeply grooved, leaf lamina margins concolorous, not resinous, scabrous, marginal hairs continuous along blade (not interrupted), antrorse, evenly spaced, leaf lamina faces glabrous.
Involucral bract 5–17 cm long, sheath 12–48 mm long, green, yellow-brown, pale to dark brown, or grey, not resinous, sheath apex scabrous or puberulous, lamina 38–112 mm long, 2.3–3.3 mm wide, isobilaterally flattened along entire length, or triangular in section at bract lamina apex, scabrous, not resinous, apex acuminate. Inflorescence narrowly ovate, or narrowly elliptic, panicle-like; 8–17 cm long, 28–34 mm wide, with 3–4 orders of branching, primary axis 7–14-noded, lowest internode 30–47 mm long, lateral branches 1 per node, spikelets somewhat distanced near the base of the inflorescence, but contracted above primary or secondary branches, lowest lateral branch 40–91 mm long, 10–30 mm wide (including spikelets). Spikelet prophyll emarginate, margin, keel and abaxial face puberulous. Spikelets 35–90 per lowest lateral branch, 7.1–9.8 mm long; 1.7–3.1 mm diam., all flowers bisexual, fertile, rachilla straight. Sterile floral bracts 4 per spikelet, basal bracts 3.2–4.2 mm long, apex aristate, midrib raised, mucronate, abaxial face puberulous, margins puberulous. Fertile floral bracts 3 per spikelet, 6.9–8.3 mm long, 1.2–1.5 mm wide, apex subulate, not mucronate, midrib apparent, abaxial face puberulous, adaxial face glabrous, margins puberulous. Stamens 3, filaments 4.1–6.8 mm long; anthers 2.5–3.2 mm long, 0.4–0.5 mm wide, with a glabrous apical appendage 0.9–1.1 mm long. Style 3-branched, undivided part 2.6–3.7 mm long, glabrous, branches 1.9–2.7 mm long, hairy. Perianth scales 6, 1.2–1.8 mm long, 0.4–0.7 mm wide, narrow-ovate or ovate, apex caudate or subulate with antrorse hairs, base glabrous.
Nutlet 3.7–4.5 mm long, 2.0–2.2 mm diam., ovate to elliptical in outline, ribs raised or almost flush, whitish, pale yellow to pale yellow-brown, glabrous, style base persistent, c. 0.15 mm long, 0.3 mm wide.
Flowering: September–October. Fruit November–December
Distribution and occurrence: Known from three locations in the Sydney region, from Manly, Kamay Botany Bay National Park, and the north-eastern part of Royal National Park. Dense shrubland or heath, often windswept being not far behind the sea-cliffs, dominated by Coast Teatree (Leptospermum laevigatum) or mallee eucalypts that provide heavy shade, on pale grey sand over sandstone.
NSW subdivisions: CC
Text by R.L.Barrett, G.T.Plunkett, J.J.Bruhl & K.L.Wilson, Apr. 2022
Taxon concept:
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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