Isolepis humillima (Benth.) K.L.Wilson

Cyperaceae

Wilson, K.L. (1981) Telopea 2(1): 167. Type: ?.

An annual herb 20-60 mm tall and densely tufted, with sometimes decumbent stems 1-20 mm long. Stems trigonous to triquetrous and ca. 0.3 mm wide.

Leaves basal and grass-like, glabrous with reddish to purplish sheaths up to 8 mm long with translucent margins; blade linear and 40-50 x 0.6-1.0 mm.

Inflorescence a head of 1-10 spikelets, with several leaf-like involucral bracts at least twice as long as the leaves. Spikelets ovoid, 3-4 mm long and many flowered. Glumes with a prominent green keel and 2 veins on either side of keel, white to reddish translucent margins, ovate to linear, 1.2-2.5 mm long, glabrous, obtuse. Perianth absent.

Nut gossy white to straw-coloured, trigonous, broadly elliptic, 0.4-0.5 mm long and minutely reticulate.

Features not available.

Occurs in WA, NT, CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from 35-405 m. Grows in alluvial and silty soil on banks of creeks and rivers in closed forest and Melaleuca forest, also in moist places in Eucalypt woodland and along edges of lagoons.

Scirpus humillimus Benth., Flora Australiensis 7: 324(1878), Type: N. Australia, South Alligator River, Arnhem Land, F. Mueller.