Gahnia filum | |
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Gahnia filum at Cherry Lake Altona, Victoria | |
Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Cyperaceae |
Genus: | Gahnia |
Species: | G. filum
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Binomial name | |
Gahnia filum |
Gahnia filum, the chaffy saw-sedge, is a tussock-forming perennial in the family Cyperaceae, endemic to Australia. It grows to between 60 and 110 cm in height. [2]
The species occurs in coastal salt marsh in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. [2] [3]
The caterpillar of the yellow sedge-skipper butterfly uses this species for shelter during daylight hours, binding the leaves with silk. By night it feeds on the grass. [4] Ghania is being planted at Aldinga Washpool in South Australia in order to provided habitat for the endangered butterfly. [5]