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.[2]

Gahnia filum
Gahnia filum at Cherry Lake Altona, Victoria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Gahnia
Species:
G. filum
Binomial name
Gahnia filum

The species occurs in coastal salt marsh in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.[2][3]

The caterpillar of the yellow sedge-skipper butterfly uses this species for shelter during daylight hours, binding the leaves with silk. By night it feeds on the grass.[4] Ghania is being planted at Aldinga Washpool in South Australia in order to provided habitat for the endangered butterfly.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Gahnia filum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  2. ^ a b K.L. Wilson. "New South Wales Flora Online: Gahnia filum". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  3. ^ "Gahnia filum (Labill.) F.Muell". Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia.
  4. ^ Herbison-Evans, Don; Stella Crossley. "Hesperilla flavescens". Caterpillars: especially Australian ones. Archived from the original on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  5. ^ Nielsen, Ben (15 November 2020). "Volunteers rejuvenating culturally significant Aldinga Washpool Lagoon now want it protected". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 November 2020.