''Carex pumila'', commonly known as strand sedge or spreading sedge,
is a species of
sedge
The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family is large, with some 5,500 known species described in about 90 genera, the largest being the "true sedges" genus ''Carex'' wit ...
of the family
Cyperaceae
The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family is large, with some 5,500 known species described in about 90 genera, the largest being the "true sedges" genus ''Carex'' w ...
.
Description
The monoecious and rhizomatous perennial grass-like sedge has a tufted habit and typically grows to a height of . It blooms in summer usually between November and February in Australia producing brown flowers.
[ The foliage is deep blue-green with coarse tufts, arising from a long creeping rhizome with a diameter of about . The culms are usually buried in sand and are in length. The culms are terete, smooth, cream or light green in colour but almost completely enclosed by light cream brown to red-brown sheaths. The leaves are longer than the culms, up to in length and about in width. The leaves are channelled, rigid, curved and taper to a fine point t the end.][
The seeds are oval shaped nuts and are in length.][
]
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described by the botanist
Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...
Carl Peter Thunberg
Carl Peter Thunberg, also known as Karl Peter von Thunberg, Carl Pehr Thunberg, or Carl Per Thunberg (11 November 1743 – 8 August 1828), was a Swedish naturalist and an "apostle" of Carl Linnaeus. After studying under Linnaeus at Uppsala Un ...
in 1784 as a part of Johan Andreas Murray
Johan Andreas (Anders) Murray (27 January 1740 – 22 May 1791) was a Swedish physician of German descent and botanist, who published a major work on plant-derived medicines.
Biography
Johan Anders Murray was born in Stockholm on 27 January 1740, ...
's work ''Systema Vegetabilium
''Systema Vegetabilium'' (abbreviated as Syst. Veg.) is a book published in four editions, following twelve earlier editions known as '' Systema Naturae''. The first edition, published in 1774 and edited by Johan Andreas Murray is counted as editi ...
''. The name of this species is often misapplied to '' Carex bichenoviana''.
Distribution
The plant is widely distributed and is found in Australia, New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
, Lord Howe Island, Chile, China, Japan and Korea.[
Mostly found along the coast in dune areas but occasionally around the sandy margins of coastal rivers and estuaries. Also sometimes as an urban lawn weed, mostly in coastal settlements.][
It is found in coastal areas through much of temperate Australia from ]Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
to Western Australia, including Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
.[ In Western Australia it is found on sand dunes in the Peel and ]South West
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...
regions where it grows in sandy soils.[
]
See also
* List of ''Carex'' species
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q10959525
pumila
Plants described in 1784
Flora of Western Australia
Flora of Queensland
Flora of Tasmania
Flora of New Zealand
Flora of Lord Howe Island
Flora of China
Flora of Japan