Sawsedge

Description

Decumbent perennial. Culms slender, decumbent, 50–200 cm high including inflorescences, 1–2.5 mm diam. Leaves spreading, smooth, shorter than culms, ± flat; ligule narrow, papery, with short fimbriate upper margin; sheaths red-brown to very dark red-brown, shining. Inflorescence small, slender, ascending, half-hidden amongst cauline leaves and long leaf-like involucral bracts, 7–16 cm long, with 5–8 nodes. Spikelets 1-flowered. Glumes 2 or 3, similar in size, straw-coloured to red-brown, glabrous or ciliate on margins, with acute to aristate apex. Stamens 3 or 4; anthers 3.0–3.5 mm long including apical appendage 0.3–0.4 mm long. Style 2–5-fid.