Scientific Name: Gahnia trifida
Common Name: coast sawsedge
Family Classification (Clade): Monocots
Family: Cyperaceae
Form Description: Densely clustered sedge with persistent remains of old leaf sheaths at the base.
Flowers: Many clustered flowers in a dense, bristly flower head up to 85cm long.
Fruit: Nut – blackish at maturity, 2.5mm long.
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Coastal; on margins of marshes and mudflats, on cliffs and among boulders.
General Notes
A host plant of the Chrysotricha skipper butterfly (Hesperilla chrysotricha), also known as the golden haired sedge-skipper. The butterflies twist the leaves together in a spiral to form a shelter.
Propagation Calendar
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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 Information
Seed Collection
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.
Seed Treatment Notes
Germinates readily from seed.
Cutting & Division Information
Division of Gahnia species tends to have little success.