Gahnia Explained

Gahnia (sawsedge, saw-sedge) is a genus of sedges native to China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and a number of Pacific Islands.[1] [2] [3] [4] The common name is due to the toothed margins. It often forms tussocks.

Species

Accepted species:[1]

Conservation

The species Gahnia lanaiensis has been known as a rare endemic plant from the Hawaiian island of Lanai and it was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States. In 2010, however, research suggested that the Lanai plants are actually Gahnia lacera introduced from New Zealand in the early 20th century.[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=246442 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=113129 Flora of China, Vol. 23 Page 257, 黑莎草属 hei suo cao shu, Gahnia J. R. Forster & G. Forster, Char. Gen. Pl. 26. 1775.
  3. Govaerts, R. & Simpson, D.A. (2007). World Checklist of Cyperaceae. Sedges: 1-765. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  4. Book: Darke, Rick . The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes . limited . . 2007 . 484 . 978-0-88192-817-4 .
  5. Web site: Cherry Lake and Truganina Swamp. Infostream. Melbourne Water. November 2000. 2008-04-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20080722205041/http://melbournewater.com.au/content/library/rivers_and_creeks/wetlands/case_studies/cherry_lake_and_truganina_swamp.pdf. 2008-07-22. dead.
  6. Koyama, T. (2010). On the identity of Gahnia lanaiensis O. Deg., I. Deg. & J. Kern (Cyperaceae) of Hawai‘i. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2008 Evenhuis, N. L. and L. G. Eldredge, Eds. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 107: 29–32.