Subterranean cape sedge (Trianoptiles solitaria)
Subterranean Cape sedge is a small leafy herb that grows in damp areas. It has the ability to naturalise in Australia and to produce large quantities of long-lived seed.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
As an environmental weed, Suberranean Cape sedge can displace other vegetation and thus reduce the availability of habitat for native plants and animals, leading to a loss of biodiversity. The decision to place subterranean Cape sedge on the Alert List was basedon its ability to naturalise in Australia and to produce large quantities of long-lived seed.
Where is it found?
Subterranean Cape sedge is native to South Africa. The earliest record of subterranean Cape sedge as a naturalised plant in Australia was of a population found in a municipal reserve near Koonung Creek in North Balwyn, Melbourne in 1989.
How does it spread?
Subterranean Cape sedge is known to reproduce by seed. There are two types of ‘nuts’ – from aerial spikelets and basal spikelets.
What does it look like?
Subterranean Cape sedge is a small, leafy, annual herb which grows to about 200 mm in height.
The leaves are somewhat fleshy, smooth, light green in colour and tufted. Striations, or veins, run lengthways down the leaf.
Subterranean Cape sedge forms two types of flower spikelet and fruit: aerial spikelets with two flowers that contain both male and female reproductive parts, and basal spikelets which develop beneath the leaves and contain only female reproductive parts. The aerial flower spikelets of subterranean Cape sedge are usually shorter than or equal to the length of the leaves. The ‘nut’, or fruit, that develops from the aerial spikelets is about 2 mm long and narrowly obovoid (egg-shaped) to narrowly elliptic (egg-shaped but pointed at both ends), with a densely pitted surface. These aerial fruits are triangular in cross-section and are wrapped in three hairy scales that each have a long central bristle and smaller side bristles at the top. In contrast, the basal nut is broadly obovoid and larger than the aerial nut, and does not have scales.
What type of environment does it grow in?
Subterranean Cape sedge grows in seasonally damp areas.
Acknowledgements
CRC for Australian Weed Management. Val Stajsic (National Herbarium of Victoria).
Control
It is possible that subterranean Cape sedge can be eradicated before it becomes widely established. Any new outbreaks should be reported immediately to your local council weed officer and the state herbarium. Do not try to control subterranean Cape sedge without their expert assistance. Control effort that is poorly performed or not followed up can actually help spread the weed and worsen the problem. Once the initial infestation is controlled, follow-up monitoring and control will be required to ensure that reinfestation does not occur.
Herbicide options
WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: One part glyphosate to 50 parts water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: One part glyphosate to 9 parts water
Comments: Splatter gun
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: One part glyphosate to 20 parts water
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate
Biosecurity duty
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
| Area | Duty |
|---|---|
| All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.
Reviewed 2022
