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Scale bar 10mm. Copyright CSIRO

Cotyledon stage, hypogeal germination. Copyright CSIRO

10th leaf stage. Copyright CSIRO
Carex horsfieldii
Family
Cyperaceae
Botanical Name
Carex horsfieldii Boott
Boott, F. (1846) Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 20: 131. Type: in Insulae Java, Dr. Horsfield..
Stem
Usually flowers and fruits when about 1-2 m tall, sometimes when smaller.
Leaves
Basal leaves sword-like, 30-100 x 1-1.5 cm, margins sharp and abrasive. Blades plicate.
Flowers
Inflorescence terminal, produced on a long peduncle which ends in a series of leafy bracts. Inflorescence a panicle of spikes, each spike consisting of female flowers at the base with a cluster of male flowers at the apex. Anthers about 1.5 mm long. Pollen yellow.
Fruit
Nuts with the style persistent at the apex, about 1.5 mm diam. and 4 mm long. Endosperm granular and oily. Embryo minute, basal.
Seedlings
First leaves 27-55 x 1 mm. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves sessile, strap-like, margins and the midrib on the lower surface of the leaf blade finely serrate. Venation parallel with 5-7 veins on each side of the midrib. Leaf base clasping the +/- triangular stem.
Distribution and Ecology
Occurs in NEQ and southwards as far as south eastern Queensland. Altitudinal range from 150-1000 m. Grows in disturbed areas in upland and mountain rain forest and mesophyll vine forest. Also occurs in Malesia.
NEQ
X
Grass
X
RFK Code
3370