Plants of
South Australia
Bolboschoenus caldwellii
Cyperaceae
Salt Club-sedge,
Salt Club-rush
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 5

Prior names

Scirpus fluviatilis, partly

Scirpus caldwellii

Scirpus maritimus, partly

Common names

Salt Club-sedge

Salt Club-rush

Etymology

Bolboschoenus from the Greek 'bolbos' meaning a bulb and 'Schoenus' a genus of Cyperaceae from which it was considered separable by the swellings on the stem. Caldwellii named after A. C. Caldwell, of Hamilton, for many years an enthusiastic collector and student of our indigenous flora and who did much to stimulate the writer's interest in New Zealand's plants.

Distribution and status

Found in fresh or brackish water across the eastern side of South Australia. Also found in all states. Native. Common in South Australia. Rare in Northern Territory. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Rhizome creeping sedge to 90 cm high with hard ovoid tubers and three-sided stems. Leaves flat and grass-like. Inflorescence umbel-like, with 1-3 rays erect or spreading, or reduced to 1 or 2 golden- or red-brown spikelets. Fruits are dense red-brown clusters of fruiting heads. Seeds are brown ovoid nut to 3 mm long and 2.5 mm wide, smooth, shiny and covered with a fine mesh-like surface. Seed embryo type is capitate.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between October and March. Collect whole heads that are brown, containing golden 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.

Seeds stored:
  Hide
LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)		Number
of plants		Date
collected		Collection number
Collection location		Date
stored		% ViabilityStorage
temperature
BGA 
MSB		30,100 (102.5 g)
30,100 (102.5 g)		3011-Jan-2007RJB71148
Southern Lofty		1-Aug-200785%-18°C
Location: BGA — the seeds are stored at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, MSB — the seeds are stored at the Millennium Seed Bank, Kew, England.
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.
We acknowledge the contributions of the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre, the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, and the Department for Environment and Water.