Heron bristle rush facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Heron bristle rush
Chorizandra cymbaria inflorescence Heathcote National Park, NSW
Scientific classification
Genus:	Chorizandra
Species:	cymbaria

Chorizandra cymbaria habit

The Heron Bristle Rush (scientific name: Chorizandra cymbaria) is a special plant from Australia. People also call it the Heron Bristle Sedge. It belongs to the sedge family, which is a group of grass-like plants. This plant is native to Australia, meaning it naturally grows there.

What Does Heron Bristle Rush Look Like?

This plant is a type of sedge that grows in thick clumps. It is a perennial, which means it lives for more than two years. It also has underground stems called rhizomes, which help it spread.

The Heron Bristle Rush usually grows to be about 0.4 to 1 metre (1.3 to 3.3 ft) tall. It blooms, or flowers, between October and December. Its flowers are a pretty purple color.

The main stems of the plant, called culms, are like hollow tubes. They are usually 0.5 to 1 metre (1.6 to 3.3 ft) long and 1.5 to 4 millimetres (0.059 to 0.157 in) wide. When they are fully grown, they turn a yellow-green color and have lines running along them.

The leaves inside the plant can grow up to 25 centimetres (9.843 in) long. They are usually yellow-brown to red-brown. The plant's flower cluster, called an inflorescence, is shaped like a narrow egg. It is about 11 to 15 mm (0.43 to 0.59 in) long and 5 to 10 mm (0.20 to 0.39 in) wide. This cluster holds many small flower parts.

How Scientists Name It

A famous botanist, Robert Brown, first officially described this plant in 1810. He wrote about it in his book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. Sometimes, people might mistakenly call this plant by the name Chorizandra australis.

Where Does It Grow?

You can find the Heron Bristle Rush in wet areas across many parts of Australia. It grows in Western Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and along the coasts of New South Wales and Queensland.

In Western Australia, it likes to grow in sandy-clay soils in peaty swamp areas. These areas are mainly found along the coast in the South West and Great Southern regions.

Images for kids

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  Chorizandra cymbaria inflorescence Heathcote National Park, NSW