Chorizandra cymbaria

R.Br. Heron Bristle-rush
Prodr.: 221 (1810)
Taxonomic status Accepted
Occurrence status Present
Origin Native
Degree of establishment Native

Perennial with slender but tough rhizome. Culms unitubular, often pluritubular near base, transverse septa usually obvious externally, often glaucous when immature, yellow-green at maturity, longitudinally striate and usually minutely warty at least near apex, 50–100 cm high, 1.3–4 mm diam. Inner leaf-blades from one-half to two-thirds length of culms, usually slightly thicker than culms, unitubular, rarely pluritubular near base; sheaths loose, yellow- to red-brown, to 25 cm long. Inflorescence narrow-ovoid to ovoid or rarely globose, 11–15 mm long, 5–10 mm wide, with c. 10–30 pseudospikelets; core not or scarcely raised. Involucral bract to 10 cm long, unitubular; margins of base yellow-chartaceous, red-dotted, sheathing sides of inflorescence. Pseudospikelets with 16–25 glumes, 13–20 stamens; glumes oblong to spathulate, the lowest keeled towards apex, glabrous, dark or pale red-brown or rarely golden yellow towards apex, 3–4.5 mm long; apex obtuse, usually irregularly toothed. Nut with 4–8 longitudinal ridges and faint irregular transverse ridges, red-brown, 2.7–4 mm long, 1.5–2.7 mm diam Flowers spring–summer.

VVP, GipP, CVU, GGr, EGL, WPro, HSF. Also WA, Qld, NSW. New Caledonia. Scattered but uncommon throughout southern Victoria, in swampy lowlands and on stream margins. .

Source:

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.

Chorizandra cymbaria (hero image) Spinning
Chorizandra cymbaria (distribution map) Spinning