Lepidosperma canescens
Boeck. Hoary Rapier-sedgeClump-forming perennial with short rhizome. Culms rigid, erect, terete, striate, glabrous, smooth, 25–100 cm high, 0.8–2.0 mm diam. Leaf-blades similar in form to culms but usually shorter, 0.7–2 mm diam., or much reduced; sheaths yellow-brown to dark grey-brown, may be dark reddish near apex (and enclosed culm base), not viscid, ± dull. Inflorescence fan-shaped to oblong in outline, loose, erect, 3–8 cm long, c. 2 cm diam.; involucral bract shorter than inflorescence. Spikelets numerous to few, 5–7 mm long; glumes 4 or 5, scaberulous at least near apex, red-brown to grey-brown, the c. 3 lowest empty, somewhat shorter than fertile glumes, obtuse to acute, mucronate; fertile glumes 5.0–6.0 mm long, acute to long-acute, mucronate or not; hypogynous scales 6, yellowish, from one-third to one-half length of nut. Nut obovoid, brown, smooth, shining, 2–3 mm long, 1.0–1.3 mm diam. Flowers spring.
Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, OtP, Gold, CVU, DunT, WPro, HSF. Also SA. Scattered in sandy heath-land and woodland, chiefly near the coast, mostly west of Port Phillip Bay, with easterly occurrences on the Mornington Peninsula and Wilsons Promontory.
Differs from L. semiteres in its stouter and stiffer culms, and its leaves of similar form to the culms. Differs from L. urophorum in its thicker culm walls and in its pith, which does not form regular transverse 'plates' in the culms.
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.
