Common names
Top-shape Watergrass
Etymology
Bulbostylis from the Latin 'bulbus' meaning bulb and 'stylus' meaning style; alluding to the bulb-like style base. Turbinata from Latin meaning top-shaped, referring to the shape of the seed.
Distribution and status
Few records from the north and north-east parts of South Australia growing on loam, sand and clay soils along watercourses, in depressions and rockholes. Also found in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland. Native. Rare in South Australia. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Very slender annual sedge to 15 cm high, with filiform sometimes scabrous stems and leaves. Leaf blades shorter than the stems; the sheaths usually bearded at the orifice but sparsely so. Inflorescence umbellate, with a few slender rays longer than the bracts, rarely reduced to a single spikelet. Flowering between February and April. Fruits are brown heads. Seeds are yellow or red three-sided triangular nut to 1.1 mm long and 0.9 mm wide, with fine reticulate surface.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between April and June. Collect whole heads that are brown, 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. From one collection, the seed viability was high, at 100%.
| Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSB | 6,400 (0.29 g) | 15 | 8-May-2007 | RJB73773 North Western | 95% | ||
| BGA MSB | 8,800 (0.79 g) 8,800 (0.79 g) | 17-May-2007 | RJB72100 North Western | 1-Aug-2007 | 100% | +5°C, -18°C |
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.