Eleocharis retroflexa, Family Cyperaceae, is a tufted, annual sedge growing to 10 cm tall.
Stems are 4-angled, almost submerged with leaves that are reduced to a sheath. Spikelets are
2Ð3.5 mm long, 1Ð2 mm wide, with 2Ð5 flowers. The glumes (small bracts in the spikelets)
are in 2 rows with two thirds overlapping, red-brown with green midrib and margins,
membranous and keeled. Nuts are white, 0.6Ð0.7 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, angles ribbed and
epidermal cells deeply pitted. Flowering and fruiting occur in May (Kern, 1974; Cowie et al.,
2000; Woinarski et al., 2007).
Eleocharis retroflexa |
Eleocharis retroflexa
Status: Vulnerable on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Eleocharis retroflexa
Threats The main potential threats to Eleocharis retroflexa include inappropriate fire regimes and grazing and trampling by high densities of feral animals (Woinarski et al.; 2007).
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Australian Government, Listing Advices, Eleocharis retroflexa
The populations occurring in remote areas of the Northern Territory are potentially affected by altered fire regimes and or feral animals (Cowie and Kerrigan; 2006). 3.