Botanical art
Prior names
Isolepis subtilissima
Scirpus inundatus
Common names
Swamp Club-rush
Etymology
Isolepis, from the Greek 'isos', meaning equal and 'lepis', meaning scale, referring to the glumes. Inundata, from the Latin 'inundo', meaning inundated, referring to the species' tolerance for growing in boggy or wet areas.
Distribution and status
Found in the southern part of South Australia growing in creeks, swamps and seasonally wet depressions. Also found in all SSates except the Northern Territory. Native. Uncommon in South Australia. Rare in Western Australia. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Variable perennial sedge with stems tufted, sometimes coarser than in most species; rigid or flaccid; to 30 cm high, sometimes proliferating from the fallen or drooping spikelets. Leaf blades usually reduced to a mere point, sometimes more developed; bract usually longer than the spikelets; erect or oblique. Spikelets mostly 3-12 in a cluster; ovoid to oblong, to 6 mm long; somewhat angled, usually stained with a dark purplish-brown; glumes with a green keel and membranous 3- or 4-nerved sides; slightly mucronate, the tip erect. Flowering between October and April. Isolepis inundata is identified by the reduced leaf blade, proliferating inflorescence and reticulate nutlets. Fruits are brown ovoid fruit-head in dense clusters at the end of stems. Seeds are yellow ovoid-triangular seed to 0.8 mm long and 0.6 mm wide with fine pitted surface. Seed embryo type is capitate.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between September and June. Collect fruits by picking off the mature heads; those turning brown and come-off easily. 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. Be careful, as the seeds are very small. Seeds are yellow and hard. 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.
| Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGA | 8,250 (1.65 g) | 32 | 3-Jan-2007 | RJB70794 Murray | 1-Aug-2007 | 100% | -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.