Scientific Name: Gahnia radula

Common Name: thatch sawsedge

Family Classification (Clade): Monocots

Family: Cyperaceae

Form Description: Loosely tufted sedge with hollow stems, round in cross-section.

Height (m): 0.4 – 1.1

Flowers: Many clustered flowers in a dense, bristly, black flower head up to 60cm long.

Fruit: Nut – white to brown, egg-shaped, 2mm long.

Municipality
Break O’DayBrightonClarenceDorsetFlindersGlamorgan-Spring BayGlenorchyHobartHuon ValleyKingboroughLatrobeNorthern MidlandsSouthern MidlandsTasmanWest Tamar
Plant Communities
Coastal VegetationHeathSedgeland and Wetland
Habitat Notes

In coastal areas, including sandy heaths, coastal scrub and woodland, and the edges of swamps.

General Notes

Attracts butterflies, including the Endangered Chaostola skipper (Antipodia chaostola leucophaea), the flame skipper (Hesperilla idothea) and Donnysa skipper (Hesperilla donnysa), which lay their eggs on the leaves and feed on the pollen. The nuts can be pounded and ground into flour to make flatbreads. Traditionally, the leaves were split, left to dry and stored. After dampening, the leaves were then woven into baskets and dillies.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Very difficult to grow from seed, and sets little seed. Most of the seed will remain held in the seed head for at least a month. Cut the seed heads with secateurs and allow to dry, then vigorously thresh against a hard surface to extract seed.

Cutting & Division Information

Division of Gahnia species tends to have little success.