Gahnia filum, the chaffy saw-sedge, is a tussock-forming perennial in the family Cyperaceae, endemic to Australia. It grows to between 60 and 110 cm in height.[2]
| Gahnia filum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Gahnia filum at Cherry Lake Altona, Victoria | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Genus: | Gahnia |
| Species: | G. filum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gahnia filum | |
The species occurs in coastal salt marsh in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.[2][3]
The caterpillar of the yellow sedge-skipper butterfly uses this species for shelter during daylight hours, binding the leaves with silk. By night it feeds on the grass.[4] Ghania is being planted at Aldinga Washpool in South Australia in order to provided habitat for the endangered butterfly.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Gahnia filum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- ^ a b K.L. Wilson. "New South Wales Flora Online: Gahnia filum". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
- ^ "Gahnia filum (Labill.) F.Muell". Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia.
- ^ Herbison-Evans, Don; Stella Crossley. "Hesperilla flavescens". Caterpillars: especially Australian ones. Archived from the original on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
- ^ Nielsen, Ben (15 November 2020). "Volunteers rejuvenating culturally significant Aldinga Washpool Lagoon now want it protected". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
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