Assignment/exercise
USC Plant Profile - Cyperaceae, Ficinia nodosa
University of the Sunshine Coast
2022
Appears in UniSC Plant Profiles
Abstract
Ficinia nodosa is an Australian native, tufted sedge grass that is quick establishing and a prolific seeder (Knotted Club Rush Ficinia nodosa, 2022). The flowers of the species appear across the tips of the foliage as brown-orange clusters. Although flowering occurs in the summer, the seedhead is often retained all year round (Knotted Club Rush Ficinia nodosa, 2022). Due to its ability to tolerate damp feet, calcareous soils and salt laden winds, this species is found in a wide variety of coastal, saltwater and alpine habitats. Within Australia the species is most commonly found growing on the edges of water features or in dune slacks of coastal beaches where it can be used as a sand-binder (Cowling et al., 2019). In addition to being used in dune restoration projects for its binding abilities, Ficinia nodosa is also utilised in biofiltration systems as a pollutant remover (Hertzog et al.,2021). Also native to South Africa and New Zealand, this species was historically considered a part of the widespread Scirpus or Isolepsis genera due to the previous belief that Ficinia only grew in sub-Saharan Africa. Allocation to the Ficinia genus only occurred in 2000 after DNA analyses confirmed nodosa’s morphological characters and extended the distribution (Muasya et al., 2000).
Details
- Title
- USC Plant Profile - Cyperaceae, Ficinia nodosa
- Authors
- Abbi Thompson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Location
- Latitude: -26.717 Longitude: 153.065; Sippy Downs Campus along the edge of the pond behind the tennis court, contrasted well against other grasses.
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date collected
- 15-Mar-2022
- Date published
- 2022
- Copyright note
- © The Author. Reproduced with permission.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99708798202621
- Output Type
- Assignment/exercise; Plant Profile Sheet
- Teaching and Learning
- ENS221; Plant Diversity and Ecology
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