Common name: Cliff Sedge
Cyperus rupicola S.T.Blake APNI* Synonyms: Cyperus rupicolus is a misspelling APNI*
Description: Tussock-forming perennial with very short thick rhizome.
Culms triquetrous, often scabrous above, 60–100 cm high, 2.5–5 mm diam.
Leaves not septate-nodulose, 6–9 mm wide, some longer than culms. Inflorescence compound with 6–10 primary branches to 18 cm long; digitate clusters to 10 mm diam.; involucral bracts leaf-like, 5–8 exceeding inflorescence. Spikelets flattened, 3–9 per cluster, 7–10 mm long, 2.5–3.5 mm wide in side view, 7–12-flowered; rachilla not winged, persistent. Glumes obtuse, mucronate, with sides irregularly 2–4-nerved, 3–3.5 mm long, red-brown. Stamens 3. Style 3-fid.
Nut triquetrous, ovoid, about two-thirds as long as glume, 1.5–1.7 mm long, c. 0.7 mm diam., yellow-brown.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Known only from Mt Warning and Nightcap Range; also in similar habitats in SE Queensland. Grows amongst rocks or on exposed cliff faces near forest.
NSW subdivisions: NC
Other Australian states: Qld
Threatened species: NSW BCA: Vulnerable
This species is considered data-deficient by Saving our Species (SoS, DPIE) which means a conservation project cannot be developed for it. Visit their website and contact SoS if you have additional information.
Text by K. L. Wilson (1993); edited KL Wilson (Sept 2008) Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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