Gahnia melanocarpa

Gahnia melanocarpa, known as the black fruit saw-sedge, is a tussock forming perennial plant in eastern Australia. Often found in the wetter forests or in rainforest margins, it is common on the coast but also seen in the tablelands.

Gahnia melanocarpa
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Gahnia
Species:
G. melanocarpa
Binomial name
Gahnia melanocarpa
Synonyms

Overview

Gahnia melanocarpa grows to two metres high. The leaf edges are sharp and can easily cut human skin. The strap-like leaves are around 10 mm wide.

The flowers grow in spikes from the centre of the plant and appear in spring and summer. They are followed by shiny dark brown to black nuts, which measure 2.5 to 3.5 mm long and 1.5 to 2 mm in diameter.[1] The specific epithet melanocarpa translates from the Greek meaning "black fruit".[2]

The species first appeared in scientific literature in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae in 1810, authored by Robert Brown.

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References
  1. "Gahnia melanocarpa". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  2. Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN 978-0-7318-1211-0 page 290


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