Scleria lithosperma var. linearis Benth.

Bentham, G. (1878) Flora Australiensis 7: 430. Type: Queensland. Brisbane River, F. Mueller.

Slender nutrush; Florida Keys nutrush

Tufted perennial with slender stems 40-60 cm or more tall.

Leaves with an obtuse apex, lamina glaucescent, 1-4 mm wide; sheaths pubescent in the middle of the sides; contraligule short, obtuse, ovate to triangular, hirsute or ciliate.

nflorescence narrow, very loose and up to 30 cm long, with a terminal panicle and 2-3 diatant axillary ones; spikelets few; primary bracts usually much exceeding their panicles. Spikelets bisexual, 1-3 in clusters, with 1 female flower and a few to several male flowers, 3-5 mm long. Glumes ovate to lanceolate, acuminate, with a green scabrid keel, rest streaked reddish brown. Disc reduced to a narrow, brown, minutely glandular ring concrete with the base of the nut.

Nut ovoid or oblong-ovoid, obtusely trigonous, minutely umbonulate, about as long as the glumes, entire surface of the nut rugulose by transverse, wavy, minutely glandular ridges.

Features not available.

Occurs in CYP, NEQ and CEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 570 m. Occurs in rainforest, notophyll vine forest, deciduous vine thicket and in Eucalypt woodland. Occurs in Asia, Malesia, to New Guinea and Fiji.

May be distinguished from var. lithosperma by the surface texture of the nut.