Carex chlorantha
R.Br. Green-top SedgeRhizome tough, long, c. 1.3–3 mm diam.; shoots loosely tufted. Culms erect, trigonous, smooth below, scabrous above, (10–)20–35(–60) cm long, to 1 mm diam. Leaves usually shorter than culms, 0.7–2.2 mm wide; sheath pale brown; ligule rounded or obtuse. Inflorescence narrow, erect, 1–2.5 cm long, with 4–12 spikes solitary at nodes; lowest involucral bract usually shorter than inflorescence or sometimes as long as inflorescence. Spikes sessile, contiguous, appressed or slightly spreading at maturity, to 0.5 cm long; uppermost spike with male flowers above female flowers; lower spikes female or with male flowers above; glumes acute, stramineous to red-brown, often with broad whitish or hyaline margins; female glumes 3.3–4 mm long; utricles 3.0–4.0 mm long, 1.0–1.2 mm diam., narrow ovoid to ovoid, nerveless or with few faint nerves, shortly hispid on margins, green to red-brown; beak c. 1 mm long, with apex split abaxially or bifid; style 2-fid. Nut ovoid, lenticular, yellow-brown. Flowers spring–summer.
VVP, VRiv, GipP, WaP, Gold, CVU, NIS, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, Strz, MonT, VAlp. Also NSW, Tas. Scattered in cooler, mostly southern parts of the state from near sea-level (Orbost) to the alps (e.g. Buckety Plain), usually in open sites on permanently moist to wet, rather fertile soils, but rather uncommon.
Superficially similar to the introduced Carex divisa, but distinguished by the characters given in the key. Specimens collected without rhizomes, and without mature utricles are difficult to distinguish from C. divisa.
Wilson, K.L. (1994). Cyperaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 238–356. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
