Gahnia filum

Gahnia filum
Gahnia filum at Cherry Lake Altona, Victoria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Gahnia
Species: G. filum
Binomial name
Gahnia filum
(Labill.) F.Muell. [1]

Gahnia filum (Chaffy Saw-sedge) is a tussock-forming perennial in the family Cyperaceae, endemic to Australia. It grows to between 60 and 110 cm in height.[2]

The species occurs in coastal salt marsh in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.[2] [3]

The caterpillar of the Altona Skipper butterfly uses this species for shelter during daylight hours, binding the leaves with silk. By night it feeds on the grass.[4]

References

  1. "Gahnia filum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  2. 1 2 New South Wales Flora Online: Gahnia filum by K.L. Wilson, Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  3. "Gahnia filum (Labill.) F.Muell.". Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia.
  4. Herbison-Evans, Don; Stella Crossley. "Hesperilla flavescens". Caterpillars: especially Australian ones. Archived from the original on September 5, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-03.


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