Lepidosperma oldfieldii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lepidosperma oldfieldii |
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| (Fitch, 1860) | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Genus: | Lepidosperma |
| Species: |
L. oldfieldii
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| Binomial name | |
| Lepidosperma oldfieldii |
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Lepidosperma elatius var. oldfieldii (Hook.f.) Rodway |
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Lepidosperma oldfieldii is a type of plant known as a sedge. Sedges are grass-like plants that belong to the Cyperaceae family. This particular sedge is native to the island of Tasmania, which is part of Australia. It was first officially described in the year 1860 by a famous botanist named Joseph Dalton Hooker.
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Discovering Lepidosperma oldfieldii
Who was Joseph Hooker?
Joseph Hooker was a very important British botanist and explorer. He traveled the world studying plants. He helped us learn a lot about different plant species. In 1860, he carefully studied and named Lepidosperma oldfieldii.
Where does this sedge grow?
Lepidosperma oldfieldii naturally grows in Tasmania. Tasmania is an island state off the southern coast of mainland Australia. It has unique environments where many special plants and animals live.
What Lepidosperma oldfieldii looks like
Joseph Hooker noted that Lepidosperma oldfieldii looks similar to another sedge called L. elatius. However, L. oldfieldii is generally smaller and more slender.
Key features of the plant
Hooker described some interesting features of this sedge:
- It has a very long panicle. A panicle is a type of flower cluster, like a branched stalk where the flowers grow. For this plant, it can be 6 to 18 inches (about 15 to 45 centimeters) long.
- This long panicle is covered with groups of chestnut-brown spikelets. Spikelets are small clusters of flowers, often found in grasses and sedges.
- The spikelets have a somewhat "squarrose" look. This means they might appear rough or have parts that stick out at right angles.
- The edges of the plant's stems, called culms, are very rough. Hooker said they are "scabrous" and can "cut severely." This means you need to be careful if you touch them!
