Common rapier-sedge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Common rapier-sedge
(Labillardière, Tab 15)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Lepidosperma
Species:	L. filiforme
Binomial name
Lepidosperma filiforme Labill.
Occurrence data from AVH
Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist.

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

The Common Rapier-Sedge (scientific name: Lepidosperma filiforme) is a type of plant called a sedge. Sedges look a bit like grasses, but they belong to a different plant family called Cyperaceae. This plant is often found growing along the coasts of south-eastern Australia and New Zealand.

What Does the Common Rapier-Sedge Look Like?

The Common Rapier-Sedge typically grows to be about 0.3 to 1 metre (about 1 to 3 feet) tall. It has special stems called culms. These culms are smooth and stiff. They are also terete, which means they are round, like a pencil, and measure between 0.7 and 2 millimetres across.

Its leaves are also round and thin, usually about 1 millimetre wide. The bottom parts of the leaves, called sheaths, can be straw-coloured or reddish.

Who Discovered This Plant?

The Common Rapier-Sedge was officially named and described in 1805. A French botanist named Jacques Labillardière gave it its scientific name. He based his description on plant samples he collected from Tasmania, an island state of Australia.