Nodding Club-rush (flowering)

Description:

Isolepis cernua is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family Cyperaceae, and is widespread, being native to many regions of the world, including parts of Australia. This is an erect, rhizomatous, grass-like sedge which is both annual and perennial. It has a clumping habit and grows to 30 cm tall, and the flowering stems are thread-like and grow from 2-20 cm tall. The small flowers range in colour from straw to a reddish-brown. This species also goes by a multitude of common names, including... nodding club-rush, bristle club-sedge, low bulrush, slender club-rush, tufted club-rush, and fiber optic grass, fairy lights, etc., etc. The name "fiber optic grass" is quite appropriate because the stems do have that thread-like appearance. The first photo shows this quite clearly. PS: Thanks to the folks at the Facebook group "Queensland Plant Identification" for helping to ID this spotting.

Habitat:

Spotted in native bushland in Girraween National Park, on the lower rock platforms beneath Mt. Norman. Area mostly dry sclerophyll woodland on sandy granite soil, and extreme variations in temperature - freezing cold (sometimes snow) in winter, and intense heat in summer. At the time I made this spotting, the entire area has just undergone massive bushfires, and drought conditions were at their peak. Here's some park info - http://www.rymich.com/girraween/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girraween_... The species can be found from southeast Queensland to as far north as Bundaberg.

Notes:

I have always associated sedges with water, so to have found it here on the side of a granite monolith, after fires had ravaged everything and during a drought, was nothing short of spectacular. What I hadn't factored in was a brief respite in the form of storms that had passed through the area some weeks prior (yes, it can rain during a drought), and there were still damp patches and trickles of water running from the mountain. Over the millennia, water has caused runnels to appear over the granite surface, debris accumulates and plants appear, and over time they form these long vegetation corridors (last two photos), always running down hill. This spotting was made in winter, so there were still damp patches of soil, but this would not have been the case during summer. Dense vegetation would usually hold the moisture in place and prevent evaporation, but now it is exposed until the area regenerates. That's just a matter of time.