Schoenoplectus pungens
(Vahl) Palla Sharp Club-rushPerennial with long rhizome. Culms triquetrous, 20–60 cm high, to 3 mm diam. Leaves with blade to 20 cm long. Inflorescence a cluster of 1–5 spikelets; involucral bract 3–6 cm long. Spikelets ovoid, acute, 6–10(–35) mm long, 3–5 mm diam; glumes strongly retuse, mucronate, ciliate or glabrous, dark red-brown, 4–5 mm long; style 3-fid; hypogynous bristles 5 or 6, retrorsely scabrous, as long as or shorter than the nut. Nut obovoid, plano-convex, grey-brown to very dark brown, smooth, shining or not, more than half as long as the glume, c. 3 mm long, c. 2 mm diam. Flowers spring.
MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, CVU, GGr, DunT, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, OtR. Also WA, SA, NSW, ACT, Tas. Europe, the Americas. Locally common fringing lakes in the cool, south-western sector of the State, but with isolated occurrences at e.g. Lake Albacutya in the north-west, Bruthen, Marlo and Mallacoota areas in the east; occurring on both heavy clay and sandy soils.
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.
Spinning
