Gahnia howeana

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Gahnia howeana
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Gahnia
Species:
G. howeana
Binomial name
Gahnia howeana
R.O.Gardner (1997) [1]

Gahnia howeana is a flowering plant in the sedge family. The specific epithet refers to Lord Howe Island, where it is found. It was formerly lumped with Gahnia xanthocarpa, which is now considered to be endemic to New Zealand. [1]

Contents

Description

It is a strong, tussocky perennial sedge with stout, smooth culms, growing to 1–2 m in height. The leaves are as long as the culms and about 1 cm wide at the base. It has a drooping, paniculate inflorescence, 30–40 cm in length. [1]

Distribution and habitat

The sedge is endemic to Australia’s subtropical Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. It occurs in moist areas within low forest on the rocky slopes and summits of Mounts Lidgbird and Gower at the southern end of the island. [1]

Related Research Articles

Lord Howe Island An island in the Tasman Sea, governed by New South Wales, Australia

Lord Howe Island is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, 600 km (320 nmi) directly east of mainland Port Macquarie, 780 km (420 nmi) northeast of Sydney, and about 900 km (490 nmi) southwest of Norfolk Island. It is about 10 km (6.2 mi) long and between 0.3 and 2.0 km wide with an area of 14.55 km2, though just 3.98 km2 of that comprise the low-lying developed part of the island.

Balls Pyramid Island in the Pacific Ocean

Ball's Pyramid is an erosional remnant of a shield volcano and caldera lying 20 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of Lord Howe Island in the Pacific Ocean. It is 562 metres (1,844 ft) high, while measuring only 1,100 metres (3,609 ft) in length and 300 metres (984 ft) across, making it the tallest volcanic stack in the world. Ball's Pyramid is part of the Lord Howe Island Marine Park in Australia and is over 643 kilometres (400 mi) northeast of Sydney, New South Wales.

<i>Gahnia</i> Genus of grass-like plants

Gahnia is a genus of sedges native to China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and a number of Pacific Islands. The common name is due to the toothed margins. It often forms tussocks.

<i>Gahnia filum</i> Species of plant

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.

Gahnia trifida, the coastal saw-sedge, is a tussock-forming perennial in the family Cyperaceae, endemic to southern Australia.

<i>Melaleuca howeana</i>

Melaleuca howeana, commonly known as tea tree, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the Lord Howe Island group, 600 km (400 mi) off the east coast of Australia. It is common in exposed areas, on cliffs and ridges, occasionally forming pure stands. Its closest mainland relative is Melaleuca ericifolia.

<i>Ptisana howeana</i>

Ptisana howeana is a rare fern endemic to Lord Howe Island, occasionally found in cultivation. The local names are horse shoe fern or king fern. A large plant, though not particularly tall. The fronds grow to four metres long.

<i>Gahnia aspera</i> Species of grass-like plant

Gahnia aspera known as the rough saw-sedge or round sawsedge is a tussock forming perennial plant, often seen in moist situations. The long strap like leaves grow to 80 cm long.

<i>Gahnia grandis</i> Species of plant

Gahnia grandis is a tussock-forming perennial plant found in southeastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.

<i>Dryococelus australis</i> A species of stick insect endemic to the Lord Howe Island Group

Dryococelus australis, commonly known as the Lord Howe Island stick insect or tree lobster, is a species of stick insect that lives on the Lord Howe Island Group. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Dryococelus and was thought to be extinct by 1920, only to be rediscovered in 2001. It is extirpated in its largest former habitat, Lord Howe Island, and has been called "the rarest insect in the world", as the rediscovered population consisted of 24 individuals living on the small islet of Ball's Pyramid.

<i>Gahnia sieberiana</i> Species of plant

Gahnia sieberiana, commonly known as the red-fruit saw-sedge, is a tussock-forming perennial plant in the family Cyperaceae, endemic to Australia. It is a widespread plant that favours damp sunny sites. Many insect larvae have been recorded feeding on the red-fruit saw-sedge. It may grow over 2 metres tall.

Gahnia radula, commonly known as the thatch saw-sedge is a tufted perennial sedge native to south-eastern Australia. The leaves are long, flat and rough, with sharp edges. It has a distinctive brown inflorescence, which darkens to black. It grows to 50–100 cm in height, spreads through its rhizomes and is found in eucalypt forest and grassy woodland.

<i>Parsonsia howeana</i> Species of plant

Parsonsia howeana is a vigorous twining vine of the family Apocynaceae. It is endemic to Australia’s subtropical Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. It is common in the island's forests at low elevations.

<i>Machaerina insularis</i> Species of grass-like plant

Machaerina insularis is a flowering plant in the sedge family. The specific epithet is the Latin insularis, alluding to its island home.

<i>Uncinia debilior</i> Species of grass-like plant

Uncinia debilior is a flowering plant in the sedge family. The specific epithet derives from the Latin debilis, with reference to the species having weaker culms than Uncinia compacta.

<i>Carex eburnea</i> Species of grass-like plant

Carex eburnea, known as ivory sedge, ebony sedge, and bristleleaf or bristle-leaved sedge, is a small and slender sedge native to North America, from Alaska and Newfoundland south to central Mexico.

<i>Machaerina juncea</i> Species of grass-like plant

Machaerina juncea, commonly known as bare twig-rush or tussock swamp twig rush, is a sedge in the sedge family, Cyperaceae, that is native to Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.

<i>Carex pumila</i> Species of grass-like plant

Carex pumila, commonly known as strand sedge or spreading sedge, is a species of sedge of the family Cyperaceae.

<i>Cyperus javanicus</i> Species of plant

Cyperus javanicus, also known as the Javanese flatsedge, is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Indonesia and Australia.

<i>Schoenus limosus</i> Species of grass-like plant

Schoenus limosus is a species of sedge endemic to the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is predominately a species of wet grasslands, which explains its common name.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Wilson, KL (2003). " Gahnia howeana ". PlantNET: New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Garden: Sydney. Retrieved 2014-02-04.