Botanical art
Prior names
Machaerina procera
Cladium mariscus
Etymology
Cladium from the Greek 'clados' meaning a branchlet, referring to the panicles. Procerum from the Latin 'procerus' meaning high, tall or long, referring to its tall robust habit.
Distribution and status
Found in northern and southern Flinders Ranges, southern Mount Lofty Ranges and lower South-east in South Australia growing in coastal swamps and margins of deep water creeks. Also found in all mainland States. Native. Rare in South Australia. Rare in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Victoria. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: Flinders Ranges, Northern Lofty, Murray, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Tall rhizomatous perennial sedge forming large clumps. Leaves with blade to 2.5 m long and 20 mm wide with yellow-brown sheath. Flower-spike long, interrupted-oblong in outline to 35 cm long and 9 cm diameter, with red-brown glumes. Flowering late spring to summer. Fruits are large red-brown fruiting spike. Seeds are brown ellipsoid to ovoid nut to 2 mm long and 1 mm wide, with a smooth surface. Seed embryo type is capitate.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between December and April. Collect heads that are dying off, turning brown and containing hard seeds. Place the heads in a tray and leave to dry for one to two weeks. Then rub the heads with a rubber bung to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate any unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Seed viability is usually high.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGA MSB | 33,400 (60.15 g) 33,400 (60.15 g) | 100+ | 14-Feb-2006 | DJD385 South Eastern | 28-Jul-2006 | 70% | +5°C, -18°C |
BGA | 2,500 (4.79 g) | 3 | 19-Apr-2007 | DJD796 Southern Lofty | 1-Aug-2007 | 85% | +5°C, -18°C |
BGA | 4,300 (7.8 g) | 3 | 13-Apr-2007 | Willodene Macclesfield Southern Lofty | 1-Aug-2007 | 65% | +5°C, -18°C |
BGA | 6,000 (10.86 g) | 2 | 28-Jan-2010 | KHB363 Flinders Ranges | 1-Jun-2010 | 90% | -18°C |
BGA | 105,650 (185.130 g) | 25+ | 4-Apr-2023 | BKB186 Southern Lofty | 20-Jun-2023 | 75% | -18°C, -80°C |