Lepidosperma gladiatum
Encyclopedia
Lepidosperma gladiatum is commonly known as the coast sword sedge or coastal sword sedge. It is an evergreen species of sedge that is native to southern coastal areas of Australia. It was described by French botanist Jacques Labillardière
in 1805.
and as far East as Cape Arid National Park
.
L. gladiatum occurs mostly as a dense sedge that favours dunes and creek lines. Described as clump-forming perennial with stout vertical rhizome. Forms dense canopy with large clumps of dark green strap-like leaves. The flat leaves are 1.5m long and 25mm wide with a sharp pointed end. The plant can be as tall and wide as 3m (though typically it is smaller) .
L. gladiatum produces brown spiky flowers on long central stalks the flowers are hermaphroditic
.
Jacques Labillardière
Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière was a French naturalist noted for his descriptions of the flora of Australia. Labillardière was a member of a voyage in search of the La Pérouse expedition...
in 1805.
Distribution and habitat
L. gladiatum can be found in coastal regions around Australia in the States of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. In Western Australia it can be found as far North as CervantesCervantes, Western Australia
Cervantes is a town in Western Australia. The town is located just off Indian Ocean Drive about north north west of the state capital, Perth in the Shire of Dandaragan Local Government Area. At the 2006 census, Cervantes had a population of 503. The town was named after a ship that was wrecked...
and as far East as Cape Arid National Park
Cape Arid National Park
Cape Arid National Park is a national park in Western Australia , south east of Perth. The park is situated east of Esperance and lies on shore from the eastern end of the Recherche Archipelago...
.
L. gladiatum occurs mostly as a dense sedge that favours dunes and creek lines. Described as clump-forming perennial with stout vertical rhizome. Forms dense canopy with large clumps of dark green strap-like leaves. The flat leaves are 1.5m long and 25mm wide with a sharp pointed end. The plant can be as tall and wide as 3m (though typically it is smaller) .
L. gladiatum produces brown spiky flowers on long central stalks the flowers are hermaphroditic
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
.