Cyperus conicus - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Cyperus conicus

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 03 Jan 2019

Description

Tufted, greyish perennial sedge with short thick underground stem. Leaves somewhat rough, 3-5 mm wide. Flowerhead simple or compound with 4-10 branches to 8 cm long, comprising numerous spikelets 2.5-3 mm long and about 0.8 mm wide, pale brown tinged yellow or red-brown. Fruit a triangular black nut, about 1.8 mm long and 0.8 mm diameter.

Distribution

Occurs rarely in the Pilliga area of NSW and is also found across the tropics in in Qld, WA and the NT, including central deserts north of Alice Springs.

Habitat and ecology

Grows in open woodland on sandy soil. In central Australia, the species grows near waterholes and on the banks of streams in sandy soils. In Qld the species usually found on heavy soils.
Recorded from Callitris forest in the Pilliga area, growing in sandy soil with Cyperus gracilis, C. squarrosus and C. fulvus.
Interstate habitats include floodplains, creek beds and banks, swamps, run-on areas and various watercourses, near or in dams and bores, and in vegetation communities such as Melaleuca swamps, open Box woodland and sedgelands. Soils are usually sandy or silty and damp to wet.
Often associated with other sedge species including C. victoriensis, C. difformis, C. iria, C. compressus, C. nervulosus, C. dactylotes, Fimbristylis and Eleocharis species.
Cyperus conicus has been recorded as very rare and occasional, to common and abundant in some populations.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Clearing (drainage, irrigation and dredging practices used in cropping and horticulture.
Changed flooding patterns due to grazing and localised cropping have affected regeneration in some cases.
Grazing.
Logging in the Pilliga area.
Disturbance to the sandy habitat by rabbits.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Monitoring of grazing impacts on plants and general condition of populations.
No further loss of extant populations.
Research into conditions and methods for successful regeneration.
Survey for new populations

Information sources

Boeckeler, J.O. (1874) Cyperus conicus (R. Br.) Boeckeler. Linnaea 38: 371.
Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
Jessop, J.P. (1981) Flora of Central Australia. (Australian Systematic Botany Society, Sydney)
Stanley, T.D. and Ross, E.M. (1989) Flora of South-Eastern Queensland. Volume 3. Queensland Department of Primary Industries: Brisbane.
Wheeler, J.R. (ed.) (1992) Flora of the Kimberley Region. (Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth)
Wilson, K.L. (1991) Systematic studies in Cyperus section Pinnati (Cyperaceae). Telopea 4(3): 361-496, p. 400.
Wilson, K.L. (1993) Cyperaceae. In Harden G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales Volume 4. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Castlereagh-Barwon	Known	None
Nandewar	Kaputar	Predicted	None