Proliferating Bulrush

Description

Isolepis prolifera has a caespitose (tufted) growth form, with round stems up to 90 centimetres (35 in) tall and 4 millimetres (0.16 in) wide. Its leaves are reduced to red or brown sheaths around the stem, sometimes with a small free lobe up to 3 mm (0.12 in) long.Its flowers are arranged in a cluster of spikelets, 2-10 mm (0.08-0.39 in) long and 1-2 mm (0.04-0.08 in) wide. Many of the spikelets are, however, replaced by branchlets, each 2-7 cm (0.8-2.8 in) long, and terminating in a further head of spikelets.This proliferation into branches gives the species its scientific name prolifera. Each spikelet consists of up to 30 flowers, and the fruit is a nutlet with fine reticulations on its surface.Isolepis prolifera varies considerably in size, and smaller specimens may resemble the Australasian species Isolepis inundata, although I. inundata normally has some true leaves, and is not always proliferating.