Citation: R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 216 (1810).

Synonymy: Mariscus alterniflorus (R. Br.) C.B. Clarke, Kew Bull. add. ser. 8:18 (1908).

Common name: Umbrella sedge.

Description:
Tufted perennial, erect, 60-150 cm high, shortly rhizomatous; stems stout, trigonous, striate, smooth or scabrous at the top; leaves mostly longer than the stems, to 12 mm broad, the margins remotely scabrous, keeled; bracts leaf-like, 3-6, much longer than the inflorescence.

Inflorescence compound, the rays 5-8, to 15 cm long but usually much shorter; spikelets in more or less dense globose subdigitate clusters, reddish- or pale-brown, oblong to narrow-ovate, compressed, 6-17 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, 6-18-flowered, frequently deciduous as a whole at maturity; rhachilla not or scarcely winged; glumes ovate, obtuse with a short mucro, keeled, 3-5-nerved, with margins membranous and inrolled, 2.3-3.5 mm long; stamens 3; style 3-branched.

Nut trigonous, narrow-oblong to narrow-obovate, from three-quarters to nearly as long as the glume, pale-brown.

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 157.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: FR, EA, EP, NL.   W.Aust.; Qld; N.S.W. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Aug., Sept.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Much of the descriptive material was taken from K. Wilson in Jessop (1981) Flora of central Australia, on whose advice the above distribution is based. A form with yellowish glumes occurs from Oodnadatta north to Charlotte Waters.Fig. 927B.

Author: Not yet available