Gahnia lanigera
{{Short description|Species of sedge}}
{{Speciesbox
| name =
| image =
| image_caption =
| status =
| status_system =
| genus = Gahnia
| species = lanigera
| authority = (R.Br.) Benth., 1878
| synonyms =
- Cladium lanigerum R. Br., 1810
}}
Gahnia lanigera, also known as the black grass saw-sedge, desert saw-sedge or little saw-sedge , is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family that is found in southern Australia. The specific epithet lanigera means 'woolly'.
Description
The plant is a rhizomatous, tufted perennial sedge growing up to 45 cm high and 2 m wide, with stiff, narrow, sharp-pointed leaves. The flowers are brown.{{cite web |url= https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/34444d6b-f4e4-40bc-9f63-c6f6944cac9f |title= Gahnia lanigera (R.Br.) Benth. Desert Saw-sedge|author= |date=12 Jan 2021|website= VicFlora|publisher= Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria|access-date= 31 March 2021}}{{cite web |url= https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/906 |title= Gahnia lanigera (R.Br.) Benth. Little Sedge|author=Grazyna Paczkowska |date=18 November 1993|website= FloraBase|publisher= Western Australian Herbarium|access-date= 31 March 2021}} It is a favoured food plant of Antipodia atralba, the black and white skipper butterfly.{{cite web |url= https://butterflyconservationsa.net.au/plant/gahnia-lanigera/|title= black grass saw-sedge|author= |date=2021|website= |publisher= Butterfly Conservation SA Inc.|access-date= 31 March 2021}}
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs in arid parts of southern Western Australia, South Australia, north-western Victoria and western New South Wales where it is found on sandy soils in mallee woodland and heathland, as well as on clayey or granitic loams and coastal dunes.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from= Q15591570}}
Category:Flora of Western Australia
Category:Endemic flora of Australia
Category:Flora of South Australia
Category:Flora of Victoria (state)
Category:Flora of New South Wales
Category:Plants described in 1810
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