Citation: L., Cent. 2. Pl. 6 (1756).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Variable flat-sedge, dirty Dora.

Description:
Green annual, to c. 30 cm high, with solitary or tufted acutely triquetrous softly compressible stems; leaves grass-like, flaccid, shorter than the stems; bracts 1-3, the lowest longer than the inflorescence and usually erect so that the inflorescence is thrown to one side.

Inflorescence a simple umbel or reduced to a dense head, the rays, when developed, up to 8, rather short, slender, spreading; spikelets usually reddish-black, rarely pallid, 8-20-flowered, very numerous and densely clustered on the rays or in the head (the clusters 6-12 mm diam.), very small, linear, 4-8 mm long and c. 1 mm wide; rhachilla not winged; glumes rather densely packed but at length spreading, very broad, very obtuse, the back with a more or less 3-nerved green stripe down the middle, but scarcely keeled; c. 0.75 mm long; stamens usually 1; style 3-branched.

Nut obovoid-cuneate, c. 0.5 x 0.3 mm, acutely triquetrous with nearly flat or concave sides, straw-coloured, with a minute point at the base of the style, slightly shorter than the glume.

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 159.

Distribution:  Grows in wet places. S.Aust.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, MU.   All mainland States.   warm parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Jan. — July.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available