Common names
Kangaroo Island Scale-rush
Etymology
Lepyrodia​ from the Greek 'lepyrodes' meaning furnished with bracts, referring to the bracteate flowers. Valliculae is the diminutive form of the Latin word 'valles', meaning valley, so 'little valley', referring to the location of the type specimen collected from Back Valley, near Encounter Bay.
Distribution and status
Endemic to South Australia and found only on the western side of Kangaroo Island and on the Fleurieu Peninusla, growing on laterite soil in open area in heathy woodland. Native. Uncommon in South Australia.
Herbarium regions: Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Small perennial sedge with filiform, simple, erect, stems to 30 cm high, basal sheaths and those along the stem appressed with short points. Flowers erect, conical, approximate or rather distant, but never clustered in a narrow spike-like panicle, to 7 cm long; segments acute, 3-4 mm long, the outer segments slightly exceeding the inner, all rather larger in the female then the males; no staminodes or rudimentary ovary. Flowering between October to February. Capsule subglobular, to 1.5 mm long and rather broader along spike at the tip of stems. Seeds are tiny brown ellipsoid seed to 1.2 mm long and 0.8 mm wide, with a fine smooth and shiny surface. Seed embryo type is broad.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between November and February. Collect mature heads, those turning brown. Either cut the whole heads or strip the fruit from the heads with your hands. 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.
Fire Response
Obligate re-spouter and re-seeder.
Longevity: >20 years
Time to flowering: 4 to 5 years
Recovery work
In 2020-2021 this species was assessed post-fire in 1 year and 2 year old fire scars. Further populations will be assessed and seeds collected on Kangaroo Island in 2021–2022. Germination screening testing the response to fire cues will be undertaken in 2021.This project was supported by the Project Phoenix program.
| Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGA MSB | 7,300 (2.04 g) 7,300 (2.04 g) | 100+ | 14-Nov-2006 | DJD671 Kangaroo Island | 28-Jun-2021 | 100% | +5°C, -18°C |
| BGA | 12,900 (2.260 g) | 500+ | 27-Sep-2021 | JRG826 Kangaroo Island | 7-Jul-2022 | 100% | -18°C, -80°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.