Isolepis stellata
(C.B.Clarke) K.L.Wilson Star Club-rushSmall tufted annual. Culms filiform, to 8(–20) cm high. Leaf-blades to 2.5 cm long. Spikelets usually 3–10 per inflorescence, 3–4 mm long; involucral bract to 10 mm long, usually exceeding inflorescence; glumes acute, excurved-mucronate, keel stout and broad, sides 1–3-nerved, straw-coloured, often dotted or tinged red-brown, 1.5–2 mm long; stamen 1; style 3-fid. Nut unequally trigonous, with angles well-defined obovoid, minutely punctate, glistening, dark brown to black, half as long as glume, 0.6–0.8 mm long, 0.5–0.6 mm diam. Flowers spring.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, VVP, GipP, OtP, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL. Also WA, SA, NSW, Tas. Mostly in seasonally wet, sandy situations in the south-west where not uncommon (e.g. Natimuk, Grampians, Glenelg River areas), with scattered near-coastal records in the east (Port Phillip, Westernport, Seaspray, Marlo etc.).
Isolepis stellata can be recognised by the stout, recurved mucro at the glume apex.
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
