Common name: Hair Sedge
Netrostylis capillaris (F.Muell.) R.L.Barrett, J.J.Bruhl & K.L.Wilson APNI* Synonyms: Tetraria capillaris (F.Muell.) J.M.Black APNI*
Description: Tufted perennial with long creeping rhizome to 30 cm long, slender, bracts pale brown; stems stiffly erect to spreading, dark green, subterete with a single groove, 11–65 cm long, 0.2–0.4 mm broad.
All basal, almost reduced to their sheaths, sheaths 27–43 mm long, 0.4–0.5 mm broad, red to reddish-brown, striate, papillose between striations, glistening; ligule membranous, blades very fine, 4–9 mm long, shortly ciliate on basal margins.
Inflorescence lanceolate, 5–11 mm long, 1–6 mm wide, without lateral branches; involucral bract 5–10 mm long. Spikelets usually 1–4 in a short panicle or raceme, 4.2–8.9 mm long, 2-flowered, the upper flower bisexual, the lower flower functionally male or sometimes 1-flowered. Glumes 6, spiral but almost distichous, the upper ones shortly ciliate on the margins, the others glabrous; fertile glumes 3.2–7.9 mm long, c. 1 mm wide. Style 3-fid, prominently swollen at the bas; hypogynous bristles very reduced or absent; hypogynous scales united, thickened, forming a ring at the base of the nut; stamens 3.
Nutlet ellipsoid or somewhat obovoid, constricted below the style base, 1.6–1.7 mm long and 1.0–1.2 mm wide; style base persistent, 0.8–1.0 mm long and 0.28–0.30 mm wide, stout, shorter than the nutlet.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Coastal areas south from Blue Mtns, Sydney and eastern ST (Budawang Ra. and near Bombala). Grows in moist heath to forest, on sandy soils.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, ST
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. S.A.
Text by R.L. Barrett, J.J. Bruhl & K.L.Wilson, Aug. 2021 Taxon concept: R.L. Barrett, J.J. Bruhl & K.L.Wilson, in prep.
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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