Common name: sedge
Cyperus semifertilis S.T.Blake APNI* 
Description: Slender, shortly rhizomatous perennial. Culms slender, triquetrous, scabrous on margins, to 55 cm long, c. 1 mm diam.
Leaves not septate-nodulose, as long as or shorter than culms, 2–4 mm wide.
Inflorescence usually simple with 1–3 slender primary branches to 5 cm long, bearing digitate clusters of spikelets; involucral bracts leaf-like, 2 or 3 exceeding the inflorescence. Spikelets flattened, 1–6 per cluster, 6–15(-20) mm long, 1.2–2.5 mm wide in side view; flowers male near apex, female below; rachilla not winged, persistent. Glumes ovate, obtuse, with sides irregularly 4–6-nerved, 1.5–1.7 mm long, greenish to dull brown. Stamens 3. Style 3-fid.
Nut trigonous, ellipsoid, longer than glume, 1.6–1.7 mm long, c. 1 mm diam., pale brown.
Flowering: spring–summer
Distribution and occurrence: Rare in NE corner of NC; also in SE Queensland. In light gaps in wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest margins.
NSW subdivisions: NC
Other Australian states: Qld
Threatened species: NSW BCA: Endangered; Commonwealth EPBC: Vulnerable
This species is considered data-deficient by Saving our Species (SoS, DPIE) which means a conservation project cannot be developed for it. Visit their website and contact SoS if you have additional information.
This species has been dubbed 'Missionary Nutgrass' for some nonsensical reason in the Threatened Species paperwork - this is NOT recommended as a common name.
Text by KL Wilson (2001), based on ST Blake (1940); edited KL Wilson (Sept 2008; Aug 2009)
Taxon concept: ST Blake, in Proc. Royal Soc. Queensland 51: 33 (1940)
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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