Lepidosperma longitudinale

Taxobox

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image_width = 240px
image_caption =
status = secure
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Poales
familia = Cyperaceae
genus = "Lepidosperma"
species = "L. longitudinale"
binomial = "Lepidosperma longitudinale"
binomial_authority = Labill.

"Lepidosperma longitudinale" is commonly known as the Pithy Sword-sedge or Pith Saw Sedge. It is an evergreen species of sedge that is native to swampy areas of most Australian states. [cite web|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Lepidosperma~longitudinale|title=PlantNET - Lepidosperma longitudinale Labill.
year=2008|accessdate=2008-05-20] It was described by French botanist Jacques Labillardière in 1805.

"L longitudinale" is a clump forming perennial that has a short thick rhizome that can grow to a height of convert|0.5|m|ft|0|lk=on to convert|2|m|ft|0|lk=on. [cite web|url=http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/937|title=Florabase - Lepidosperma longitudinale Labill.|year=1993|accessdate=2008-05-20] The culms are erect, biconvex, glabrous, smooth with a width of between convert|5|mm|lk=on and convert|10|mm|lk=on, they are also quite sharp on the edges. The leaves are yellow to red at the base and have a dark and pointed tip

Flowering occurs between the months of May to October. The inflorescences of "L longitudinale" are brown in color and occur at the top of the stems. Each stem is topped with spikelets that are 5 to 7 mm in length and each contain 2-3 small flowers. [cite web|url=http://portal.water.wa.gov.au/portal/page/portal/WaterQuality/Publications/RiparianPlantsFieldGuide/Content/lepidosp_longitud.pdf|title=Department of Water (WA) - Lepidosperma longitudinale |year=2006|accessdate=2008-05-20] This sedge forms fruits in the form of an almost oval brown nut that is 2 mm wide and 3-4mm in length.

The preferred habitat of "L longitudinale" is freshwater areas such as swamps, lake edges, floodways, creekbanks and seeps. The plant tends to spread with its creeping rhizomes to form new stems to form dense monoculture colonies.

References