Cyperaceae taxon details
Lepidosperma prospectum G.T.Plunkett & R.L.Barrett
1679462 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:1679462)
accepted
Species
terrestrial
Barrett, R. L.; Plunkett, G. T.; Bruhl, J. J.; Wilson, K. L. (2022). <i>Lepidosperma prospectum</i> (Cyperaceae), a new species from Sydney coastal heath and notes on usage of sword sedges. <em>Telopea.</em> 25: 81–92., available online at https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea14879
page(s): 84 [details] Available for editors
[request]
page(s): 84 [details] Available for editors
[request]
Holotype NSW 1119251, geounit New South Wales
Holotype NSW 1119251, geounit New South Wales [details]
Description Large caespitose perennial 0.6–1.2 m high, 0.4–1.5 m across. Rhizomes spreading, to at least 30 cm long. Culms 65–115...
Distribution Known from three locations in the Sydney region, from Manly (Blue Fish Point,
Sydney Harbour National Park), Kamay Botany...
Etymology The epithet is from the Latin verb prospicio, -ere, -exi, prospectum (to look into the distance, have a view), in reference...
Description Large caespitose perennial 0.6–1.2 m high, 0.4–1.5 m across. Rhizomes spreading, to at least 30 cm long. Culms 65–115 cm long, 5.3–7.9 mm wide; 0.9–2.2 mm thick, biconvex to planoconvex, striate or smooth, not grooved, margins scabrous, marginal hairs continuous along blade, antrorse, evenly spaced, not resinous, faces glabrous. Culms longer than leaves, culm to leaf ratio ± 0.9. Leaves equitant, spreading at 10–20 degrees in individual ramets, 44–98 cm long. Leaf sheath 6–13 cm long, mid-brown, or dark brown to almost black, not conspicuously resinous, leaf sheath margins translucent, glabrous, smooth or scabrous, face glabrous. Ligule with a free limb, acuminate, glabrous or scabrous. Leaf lamina well-developed, (25–)38–87 cm long, 3.8–7.4 mm wide, 0.3–0.7 mm thick, linear, biconvex to concavo-convex, coarsely or finely striate, not deeply grooved, leaf lamina margins concolorous, not resinous, scabrous, marginal hairs continuous along blade (not interrupted), antrorse, evenly spaced, leaf lamina faces glabrous. Involucral bract 5–17 cm long, sheath 12–48 mm long, green, yellow-brown, pale to dark brown, or grey, not resinous, sheath apex scabrous or puberulous, lamina 38–112 mm long, 2.3–3.3 mm wide, isobilaterally flattened along entire length, or triangular in section at bract lamina apex, scabrous, not resinous, apex acuminate. Inflorescence narrowly ovate, or narrowly elliptic, panicle-like; 8–17 cm long, 28–34 mm wide, with 3–4 orders of branching, primary axis 7–14-noded, lowest internode 30–47 mm long, lateral branches 1 per node, spikelets somewhat distanced near the base of the inflorescence, but contracted above primary or secondary branches, lowest lateral branch 40–91 mm long, 10–30 mm wide (including spikelets). Spikelet prophyll emarginate, margin, keel and abaxial face puberulous. Spikelets 35–90 per lowest lateral branch, 7.1–9.8 mm long; 1.7–3.1 mm diam., all flowers bisexual, fertile, rachilla straight. Sterile floral bracts 4 per spikelet, basal bracts 3.2–4.2 mm long, apex aristate, midrib raised, mucronate, abaxial face puberulous, margins puberulous. Fertile floral bracts 3 per spikelet, 6.9–8.3 mm long, 1.2–1.5 mm wide, apex subulate, not mucronate, midrib apparent, abaxial face puberulous, adaxial face glabrous, margins puberulous. Stamens 3, filaments 4.1–6.8 mm long; anthers 2.5–3.2 mm long, 0.4–0.5 mm wide, with a glabrous apical appendage 0.9–1.1 mm long. Style 3-branched, undivided part 2.6–3.7 mm long, glabrous, branches 1.9–2.7 mm long, hairy. Perianth scales 6, 1.2–1.8 mm long, 0.4–0.7 mm wide, narrow-ovate or ovate, apex caudate or subulate with antrorse hairs, base glabrous. Nutlet 3.7–4.5 mm long, 2.0–2.2 mm diam., ovate to elliptical in outline, ribs raised or almost flush, whitish, pale yellow to pale yellow-brown, glabrous, style base persistent, c. 0.15 mm long, 0.3 mm wide. [details]
Distribution Known from three locations in the Sydney region, from Manly (Blue Fish Point,
Sydney Harbour National Park), Kamay Botany...
Distribution Known from three locations in the Sydney region, from Manly (Blue Fish Point,
Sydney Harbour National Park), Kamay Botany Bay National Park, on the southern side of Botany Bay, and near Bundeena in the north-eastern part of Royal National Park. Although it is locally common at this latter location, the actual number of individuals (a few hundred to a few thousand) may be low once extensive clonality is accounted for. Populations near Blue Fish Point and in Kamay Botany Bay National Park appear to be relatively small (10–100 individuals). [details]
Sydney Harbour National Park), Kamay Botany Bay National Park, on the southern side of Botany Bay, and near Bundeena in the north-eastern part of Royal National Park. Although it is locally common at this latter location, the actual number of individuals (a few hundred to a few thousand) may be low once extensive clonality is accounted for. Populations near Blue Fish Point and in Kamay Botany Bay National Park appear to be relatively small (10–100 individuals). [details]
Etymology The epithet is from the Latin verb prospicio, -ere, -exi, prospectum (to look into the distance, have a view), in reference...
Etymology The epithet is from the Latin verb prospicio, -ere, -exi, prospectum (to look into the distance, have a view), in reference to the coastal and somewhat elevated habitat of this species behind the sea-cliffs. It is from such vantage points that the Gamaragal, Gweagal and Dharawal people would have observed the first Europeans arriving by boat some 250 years ago. The epithet is chosen to acknowledge the deep historical and living indigenous knowledge of the Australian environments gained through careful observation. In contrast, the recent recognition of this species highlights a gap in the documented European knowledge of the Sydney region since Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander first collected plants (but not this species) around Botany Bay 250 years ago. [details]
Cyperaceae Working Group. (2025). [see How to cite]. Global Cyperaceae Database. Lepidosperma prospectum G.T.Plunkett & R.L.Barrett. Accessed at: https://cyperaceae.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1679462 on 2025-09-13
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Nomenclature
original description
Barrett, R. L.; Plunkett, G. T.; Bruhl, J. J.; Wilson, K. L. (2022). <i>Lepidosperma prospectum</i> (Cyperaceae), a new species from Sydney coastal heath and notes on usage of sword sedges. <em>Telopea.</em> 25: 81–92., available online at https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea14879
page(s): 84 [details] Available for editors [request]
page(s): 84 [details] Available for editors
[request]
Present Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
Holotype NSW 1119251, geounit New South Wales [details]
Isoepitype CANB, geounit New South Wales [details]
Isotype BM, geounit New South Wales [details]
Isotype MEL, geounit New South Wales [details]
From editor or global species database
Description Large caespitose perennial 0.6–1.2 m high, 0.4–1.5 m across. Rhizomes spreading, to at least 30 cm long. Culms 65–115 cm long, 5.3–7.9 mm wide; 0.9–2.2 mm thick, biconvex to planoconvex, striate or smooth, not grooved, margins scabrous, marginal hairs continuous along blade, antrorse, evenly spaced, not resinous, faces glabrous. Culms longer than leaves, culm to leaf ratio ± 0.9. Leaves equitant, spreading at 10–20 degrees in individual ramets, 44–98 cm long. Leaf sheath 6–13 cm long, mid-brown, or dark brown to almost black, not conspicuously resinous, leaf sheath margins translucent, glabrous, smooth or scabrous, face glabrous. Ligule with a free limb, acuminate, glabrous or scabrous. Leaf lamina well-developed, (25–)38–87 cm long, 3.8–7.4 mm wide, 0.3–0.7 mm thick, linear, biconvex to concavo-convex, coarsely or finely striate, not deeply grooved, leaf lamina margins concolorous, not resinous, scabrous, marginal hairs continuous along blade (not interrupted), antrorse, evenly spaced, leaf lamina faces glabrous. Involucral bract 5–17 cm long, sheath 12–48 mm long, green, yellow-brown, pale to dark brown, or grey, not resinous, sheath apex scabrous or puberulous, lamina 38–112 mm long, 2.3–3.3 mm wide, isobilaterally flattened along entire length, or triangular in section at bract lamina apex, scabrous, not resinous, apex acuminate. Inflorescence narrowly ovate, or narrowly elliptic, panicle-like; 8–17 cm long, 28–34 mm wide, with 3–4 orders of branching, primary axis 7–14-noded, lowest internode 30–47 mm long, lateral branches 1 per node, spikelets somewhat distanced near the base of the inflorescence, but contracted above primary or secondary branches, lowest lateral branch 40–91 mm long, 10–30 mm wide (including spikelets). Spikelet prophyll emarginate, margin, keel and abaxial face puberulous. Spikelets 35–90 per lowest lateral branch, 7.1–9.8 mm long; 1.7–3.1 mm diam., all flowers bisexual, fertile, rachilla straight. Sterile floral bracts 4 per spikelet, basal bracts 3.2–4.2 mm long, apex aristate, midrib raised, mucronate, abaxial face puberulous, margins puberulous. Fertile floral bracts 3 per spikelet, 6.9–8.3 mm long, 1.2–1.5 mm wide, apex subulate, not mucronate, midrib apparent, abaxial face puberulous, adaxial face glabrous, margins puberulous. Stamens 3, filaments 4.1–6.8 mm long; anthers 2.5–3.2 mm long, 0.4–0.5 mm wide, with a glabrous apical appendage 0.9–1.1 mm long. Style 3-branched, undivided part 2.6–3.7 mm long, glabrous, branches 1.9–2.7 mm long, hairy. Perianth scales 6, 1.2–1.8 mm long, 0.4–0.7 mm wide, narrow-ovate or ovate, apex caudate or subulate with antrorse hairs, base glabrous. Nutlet 3.7–4.5 mm long, 2.0–2.2 mm diam., ovate to elliptical in outline, ribs raised or almost flush, whitish, pale yellow to pale yellow-brown, glabrous, style base persistent, c. 0.15 mm long, 0.3 mm wide. [details]Diagnosis Differs from Lepidosperma concavum in the finely scabrous and non-viscid culm margins (culm margins of L. concavum are puberulous and viscid). Differs from L. sieberi in the larger habit (0.6–1.2 vs 0.2–0.6 m high), and longer (8–17 vs 3–10(–15) cm long) but more-slender inflorescence that is less branched.
Lepidosperma sieberi is generally smaller and notably has culms 3–6 (rarely to 7.5) (vs 5.3–7.9) mm wide, spikelets 7.1–9.8 (vs 5–8) mm long, fertile floral bracts 6.9–8.3 (vs 6–7) mm long and nutlets 1.4–1.9 (vs 2.0–2.2) mm wide.
Lepidosperma latens K.L.Wilson is superficially similar, but can readily be distinguished by the fine, harsh scabrous margins that easily cut the skin when attempting to pull out leaves or culms. [details]
Distribution Known from three locations in the Sydney region, from Manly (Blue Fish Point,
Sydney Harbour National Park), Kamay Botany Bay National Park, on the southern side of Botany Bay, and near Bundeena in the north-eastern part of Royal National Park. Although it is locally common at this latter location, the actual number of individuals (a few hundred to a few thousand) may be low once extensive clonality is accounted for. Populations near Blue Fish Point and in Kamay Botany Bay National Park appear to be relatively small (10–100 individuals). [details]
Etymology The epithet is from the Latin verb prospicio, -ere, -exi, prospectum (to look into the distance, have a view), in reference to the coastal and somewhat elevated habitat of this species behind the sea-cliffs. It is from such vantage points that the Gamaragal, Gweagal and Dharawal people would have observed the first Europeans arriving by boat some 250 years ago. The epithet is chosen to acknowledge the deep historical and living indigenous knowledge of the Australian environments gained through careful observation. In contrast, the recent recognition of this species highlights a gap in the documented European knowledge of the Sydney region since Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander first collected plants (but not this species) around Botany Bay 250 years ago. [details]
