Hairy actinoschoenus facts for kids

The Hairy Actinoschoenus (scientific name: Actinoschoenus arthrostyloides) is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the sedge family, called Cyperaceae. This plant naturally grows in Western Australia, especially in the Kimberley area.

It was first named Fimbristylis arthrostyloides in 1918 by William Vincent Fitzgerald. Later, in 2015, Kerri Clarke, Karen Wilson, and Jeremy Bruhl moved it to a different group, the Actinoschoenus genus.

What's in a Name?

The second part of its scientific name, arthrostyloides, comes from another plant group called Arthrostylis. The word '-oides' is Greek and means 'like'. So, the name tells us that this plant looks similar to plants in the Arthrostylis group.

About the Hairy Actinoschoenus

This plant is a perennial sedge, which means it lives for more than two years. It grows in clumps and can reach a height of 0.3 to 0.8 meters (about 1 to 2.5 feet).

Its stems, called culms, are thin, about 0.5 to 1 millimeter wide. They are mostly round but have 5 or 6 clear ridges. These stems are covered with short, dense hairs, and also have longer hairs scattered along the ridges.

The leaves are also very hairy, with both short and long hairs. The top leaf can be 35 to 100 millimeters long.

Flowers and Fruits

The plant's flowers grow in a cluster of 1 to 7 spikelets, which are small, compressed flower heads. These spikelets are shaped like narrow ovals, about 7 to 9 millimeters long.

The plant usually has three stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. The style, which is part of the female reproductive organ, is undivided for about 4.3 to 5.5 millimeters. It has three stigmatic branches, which are where pollen lands.

The fruit is a small nut, about 2 to 2.5 millimeters long and 1.5 to 2 millimeters wide. It is whitish to grey-brown and has ridges across it.

You can usually find this plant flowering and fruiting in February, and from May to August.

Where It Lives

The Hairy Actinoschoenus grows in open woodlands with shrubs, often on sandy soil near sandstone. Sometimes, you can find it on the edges of pools.

It is found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Its range extends from Mitchell Plateau and Boongaree Island in the south, all the way to Bullo River in the Northern Territory.

Conservation Status

This plant is known to grow in thirteen different places in Western Australia and six places in the nearby Northern Territory. Because it is found in many locations and is quite widespread, it is not currently considered a priority species for conservation. This means it is not at high risk of disappearing.