Red-fruited Saw-sedge

Gahnia sieberiana

This large clumping perennial sedge grows to 2 m high with flower spikes dotted with bright red nuts in spring-summer.

The leaves have fine serrations which can cut the skin.

Photographer - Bruce Fuhrer		Photographer - Ross Field
Photographer - Ross Field		Photographer - John Broomfield Source - Museum Victoria

This is the main food plant for the Sword Grass Brown butterfly (Tisiphone abeona).

It is also the host for a number of skipper butterfly (Hesperilla) species the latter of which tie the leaf sheaths together forming a tubular shelter in which the caterpillars hide during the day.

The nuts were also ground for food by aboriginal people.