Isolepis subtilissima

Dwarf Clubsedge at Bolaro, NSW

Request use of media

Identification history

	Isolepis subtilissima	16 Feb 2018	MichaelMulvaney
	Unidentified	2 Feb 2018	DavidMcKay

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

These plants form a dense lawn like mass over a square metre or so of boggy soil in a creek bed. Erect stems appear to have a flower bud near the tip. Could this be Limosella?

6 comments

BettyDonWood wrote:

6 Feb 2018

Some sort of sedge?

DavidMcKay wrote:

7 Feb 2018

You amaze me! It does look like a sedge. The stems are only a fraction of a mm wide - too small to see the shape but they feel triangular when rolled between fingers. There is a single report of Isolepis platycarpa in the Canberra Nature Map and this looks similar to what I saw. The Vicflora Key quickly lost me. I brought back a small plug hoping the flowers would open further for photographs but I think I will take it to the ANBG tomorrow.

JustinHurleyLey wrote:

8 Feb 2018

This is an Isolepis, though I couldn't say which one. It resembles Isolepis inundata, though this appears smaller and the triangular stems sound a bit different. Could be platycarpa, it's definitely small and dense enough.

DavidMcKay wrote:

16 Feb 2018

I took a sample to the ANBG on Feb 7th. We might get a definitive ID in due course

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

16 Feb 2018

Great thanks David - please keep us informed

DavidMcKay wrote:

17 Feb 2018

We Have a reply from Dave Albrecht , CSIRO. I have copied his response for information so we have an ID. I have replied to Dave's email to thank him for his help.

Thanks for sending in the sedge specimen for identification.
It keys out nicely to Isolepis subtilissima based on the extensive underground stems, and spikelets with 3 style arms, 1 stamen and an unequally 3-angle fruit. Further information on the species can be found at http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Isolepis~subtilissima The material was good so I have pressed some and will incorporate the dried specimen into our collection.

All the best, Dave

Please Login or Register to comment.