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chaffy sedge

Scientific Name: Carex paleacea

Family: Cyperaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth: Graminoid

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Chaffy Sedge and Chaffy Saw-sedge: A Botanical Overview

This page explores two distinct plants sharing similar common names: Chaffy Sedge (Carex paleacea) and Chaffy Saw-sedge (Gahnia filum). While both belong to the sedge family, they are different species with distinct characteristics and distributions.

Chaffy Sedge (Carex paleacea)

Chaffy Sedge is a salt marsh sedge found primarily along the central to northern New England coast and the eastern and northern coasts of Canada.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature
  • Scientific Name: Carex paleacea Schreb. ex Wahlenb.
  • Common Name: Chaffy Sedge
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge family)
  • Synonyms: Carex palac (likely a misspelling or abbreviation in the original text)
  • Other Common Names: Havstorr Vihnesara (likely a translation into another language)
Distribution and Habitat
  • Found in salt marshes.
  • Geographic distribution includes central to northern New England coast, and eastern and northern coasts of Canada.
Morphological Characteristics
  • Can grow up to 80 cm tall from a thick, scaly rhizome.
  • Graminoid growth habit.

Chaffy Saw-sedge (Gahnia filum)

Chaffy Saw-sedge is a tussock-forming perennial grass native to Australia.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature
  • Scientific Name: Gahnia filum
  • Common Name: Chaffy Saw-sedge
  • Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge family)
Distribution and Habitat
  • Endemic to Australia (Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and New South Wales).
  • Found in the drier parts of saltmarshes and scattered along rocky shorelines in the middle and lower estuary.
Morphological Characteristics
  • Tussock-forming perennial.
  • Grows to between 60 and 110 cm in height.
  • Has flat grassy leaves.
  • Produces brown flower spikes in spring and summer.
Ecological Role
  • Provides habitat for the threatened Skipper Butterfly, which specifically inhabits this species of sedge.

Quirky Facts

  • The Chaffy Saw-sedge in Cherry Lake, Altona, Australia, is a popular attraction for visitors, as evidenced by TripAdvisor reviews.
  • The Chaffy Saw-sedge at Point Cooke provides habitat for the rare Altona Skipper butterfly.

Further Information

  • Discover Life: Provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Carex paleacea.
  • TERMIUM: The Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank.
  • Dave's Garden: A community website for sharing gardening tips and ideas.