Appearance
"Gahnia sieberiana" grows as a tall strappy tussock to 2 metres high and wide, with rough flat leaves. The leaf margins have tiny serrations that are sharp and can cut the hands of those handling the plant. The tall black flowers grow in spikes from the centre of the plant and can rise another metre above the clump, appearing in spring and summer. They are followed by shiny red or red-brown round nuts, which measure 2.5 to 4.0 mm long, 1.5 to 2.0 mm in diameter.
Naming
"Gahnia sieberiana" was described by German botanist Carl Sigismund Kunth in 1837. It is one of the many species named in honour of the Bohemian collector, Franz Wilhelm Sieber.
Distribution
"Gahnia sieberiana" is found across eastern Australia, from Tasmania to North Queensland, as well as Malesia, from sea level to an altitude of 1,200 m. It is found on clay and sandy soils.
Predators
Seeds appear to germinate after bushfire. The caterpillars of the dingy grass-skipper, montane sedge-skipper, silver sedge-skipper, flame sedge-skipper, golden-haired sedge-skipper, heath sand-skipper, sword-grass brown and northern sword-grass brown feed on the leaves.References:
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