SEDGES & RUSHES OF HEPBURN SHIRE AND THE WOMBAT FOREST

Includes true sedges and rushes and species commonly referred to as such

(listed in order of botanical name)

Carex appressa

A semi-aquatic sedge occurring on the margins of waterways or in boggy ground. Leaves sharply serrated on margins, can cause cuts if handled carelessly. Flowering stems roughly triangular in cross-section. Flower-heads comprised of short spikes clustered at top of stem. A very common sedge on waterways and wet soils throughout Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest.

Carex fascicularis | Tassel Sedge

Semi-aquatic sedge. Seed held in distinctive tassel spikes. Bright green leaves are supple and not as sharp as C. appressa. Occurs adjacent waterbodies across Hepburn Shire.

Carex gaudichaudiana | Fen Sedge

A rhizomatous sedge that can spread to form large patches within creeks and permanently wet soils. Thin blue-green leaves. Male and female spikes held on same stem in late spring. Occurs in slow moving sections of creeks mainly in the west and north of Hepburn Shire. Almost absent within the Wombat Forest.

Carex iynx | Tussock Sedge

A sedge forming a small tussock to 30cm or so, with flowering stems to 1m. Pendulous seed heads. Very few occurrences within Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest. Recorded at Spargo, Newlyn and Clunes.

Carex tereticaulis | Poong'ort

A semi-aquatic sedge occurring on the edge of waterbodies and in swampy ground. Differs from Carex appressa in that stems (culms) are cylindrical rather than ridged and leaves are usually significantly reduced. Leaves not viciously sharp and serrated like C. appressa. Uncommon within Hepburn Shire largely occurring in the west. Absent within the Wombat Forest.

Cyperus gunnii | Flecked Flat-sedge

Semi-aquatic sedge occurring on the margins of waterbodies. Leaves dark green, slender, slightly serrated and sharp on margins. Flower and seed in dense spikes (often almost spherical clusters). Leaf like bracts below seed clusters shorter than C. lucidus. Scattered across Hepburn Shire in or adjacent waterways. Uncommon in the Wombat Forest.

Cyperus lucidus | Leafy Flat-sedge

Semi-aquatic sedge occurring on the margins of waterbodies. Flower and seed clusters in open spikes (often cylindrical clusters). Long leaf-like bracts form an umbrella below seed clusters. Occurs scattered along the margins of waterbodies throughout Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest.

Eleocharis acuta | Common Spike-sedge

A leafless sedge spreading vigorously to form patches within shallow water and wet soils. Cylindrical flowering stems typically 30-70cm tall. Egg-shaped flower-head slightly wider than stem. Flower-head relatively centrally aligned with stem (see E. gracilis) Abundant in the western half of Hepburn Shire, sparse occurrences elsewhere. Uncommon in the Wombat Forest.

Eleocharis gracilis | Slender Spike-sedge

A leafless sedge spreading vigorously to form patches within swampy sites. Fine, cylindrical flowering stems to 40cm. Egg-shaped flower-head slightly offset from centre of stem. Rare within Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest (recorded in Clunes and Barkstead).

Eleocharis sphacelata | Tall Spike-rush

A tall, vigorous aquatic plant of the sedge family (Cyperaceae). Typically growing submerged, often in deep water. Stems to 12mm diameter with internal divisions. Flowerheads are in a compact terminal spike with a fish-scale pattern, sometimes with cream-coloured anthers protruding. Sparse occurrences throughout Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest, often confined to dams and lakes.

Empodisma minus | Spreading Rope-rush

A bright green plant spreading from underground stems to form tangled mats. Fine stems. Leaves reduced to scales or sheaths on the stem. Leaves up to 1cm long. Insignificant flowers on separate male and female plants. Scattered occurrences in swampy and riparian areas within the Wombat Forest. Uncommon or absent in other parts of Hepburn Shire.

Gahnia radula | Thatch Saw-sedge

A sedge that spreads on underground rhizomes, sparse tufts on drier ground, or extensive moderately dense patches on moist ground. Leaves sharp with small serrations on margins. Flowerhead brown to black when present. Within Hepburn Shire most common within drier forests around Creswick and north from Daylesford. Uncommon in the Wombat Forest.

Gahnia sieberiana | Red-fruit Saw-sedge

A large sedge often 1.5m x 1.5m with flowering stems to 3m. Striking seed-heads bearing numerous red fruits (nuts) a little smaller than rice grains. Critical food plant for Sword-grass Brown butterfly larvae. Nuts consumed by birds, clumps habitat for small birds and ground-dwelling fauna. Widespread within the Wombat Forest, particularly in low-lying or swampy areas. Uncommon in other parts of Hepburn Shire.

Juncus australis | Austral Rush

An open tuft or tussock typically to 1m. Dull green stems, hard to the squeeze, somewhat difficult to split. Pith open with large air-spaces, becoming more dense towards base. Capsules golden-brown, usually arranged in ball-like clusters. Sparsely scattered in moist environments throughout the Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest.

Juncus bufonius | Toad Rush

A small tufted annual typically to 20cm colonising wet sites, particularly in disturbed areas. Flowers held along branched stems. Occurs throughout Hepburn Shire, can be abundant in wet parts of modified landscapes. Uncommon in the Wombat Forest.

Juncus gregiflorus | Green Rush

A rush with bright-green cylindrical culms typically to around 1m. Culms relatively easily split, with interrupted pith. Inflorescence (seed-head) densely arranged, with most capsules touching another. True leaves reduced to a basal sheath which is dark brown at the base. Sparsely scattered predominantly on waterways within Hepburn Shire. Uncommon in the Wombat Forest.

Juncus holoschoenus | Joint-leaf Rush

A rush forming an upright, loose tuft to 90cm. Soft tubular leaves, hollow, with partitions. Clusters of red-brown flower-heads. Widespread across Hepburn Shire. Grows larger than J. fockeii (which grows to 50cm) but otherwise difficult to distinguish between these species. May also be confused with J. articulatus, a common weed within local waterways that is usually lax, rather than upright.

Juncus pallidus | Pale Rush

A large rush species typically exceeding 1m in height. Grey-green or vibrant-green stems often around 5mm in diameter, pith within stems dense and continuous (or nearly so) throughout. Leaves reduced to a sheath at the base of stems, mid to dark reddish brown at base. Occurs in or adjacent waterbodies or in moist low-lying situations. A widespread species throughout Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest. There are numerous Juncus species within Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest, many of which are very similar and easily confused.

Juncus pauciflorus | Loose-flower Rush

A vibrant-green rush forming a neat tuft, typically to 60cm. Leaf-like stems to 3mm diameter with continuous cobwebby pith. An open golden-brown flower-head with capsules longer than flowers. Very common in roadside depressions within the Wombat Forest. Scattered throughout Hepburn Shire.

Juncus planifolius | Broad-leaf Rush

An annual rush species with slightly fleshy flattened leaves typically to 1cm across. Leaf sheaths often red. Common in ephemeral waterways and boggy ground throughout Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest

Juncus procerus | Tall Rush

A large rush to 2m or so. Stems typically bright green and somewhat glossy, to 1cm diameter. Stems easily compressed, feel hollow and are quite brittle. Pith open with large air spaces. Relatively widespread throughout the Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest, particularly growing within the waterline of lakes and creeks.

Juncus remotiflorus | Diffuse Rush

A rush typically to 60cm tall. Very fine culms only 0.5mm to 3mm diameter, grey green. A very open flowerhead / seedhead. Pith cobwebby, interrupted. Common in drier forests throughout Hepburn Shire, where it typically occupies drainage lines and ephemeral creeks. More tolerant to dry than most Juncus species.

Juncus sarophorus | Broom Rush

A tall rush, occasionally reaching 1.8m, usually occurring in or around waterbodies or on floodplains. Slender grey-green stems to 4mm diameter, easily split, with interrupted pith. Inflorescence usually in the shape of an upright fan, dense and with multiple branchlets. Scattered widely throughout Hepburn Shire.

Juncus subsecundus | Finger Rush

A blue-green rush typically well under 1m tall. Cylindrical stems less than 2.5mm across with <35 strongly raised ridges. Walls of stems reasonably firm, pith inside stems interrupted. True leaves reduced to a basal sheath which is light to mid-brown in colour. Relatively widespread throughout Hepburn Shire and sparsely scattered within the Wombat Forest.

Lepidosperma elatius | Tall Sword-sedge

A large clumping sedge. Dark green leaves long and wide, typically over 1cm across, with a raised, thickened midrib. Flowering stems considerably longer than leaves, spikelets arranged in a long, graceful, drooping spray. Largely confined to the Wombat Forest within Hepburn Shire. Often occurring in gully lines or swampy areas, sometimes alongside Gahnia sieberiana.