Scientific name
Centrolepis Labill.
Family
Restoniaceae
Similar genera
Native distribution
southeast Asia, Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea and New Zealand
Species cultivated
one to three species cultivated, but not commonly available
Centrolepis banksii (R.Br.) Roem. & Schult.
C. monogyna (Hook.f.) Benth.
C. strigosa (R.Br.) Roem. & Schult.
Adventive distribution
information not available
Weed status
not weedy
Habit
small, tufted, grass-like herb; amphibious to aquatic, attached
Brief description
Annual or perennial. Stem simple and compact. Roots numerous, hardly branched. Leaves typically basal, glabrous, sometimes purplish; sheath membranous, margin hyaline; ligulate, or not; leaf blade linear to subulate; apex acute; base straight; venation midrib only. Inflorescence a terminal, cymose head; scape terete, glabrous; head ovoid to cylindric; primary bracts 2, enclosing the head, ± opposite, rounded on the back, sheathing, glabrous, or papillate to hispid; secondary bracts 0 or 2 per flower, opposite, obtuse, hyaline. Flowers small, typically bisexual, or some lacking the stamen; perianth absent.
Natural habitat
margin of lakes, small tarns, pools, streams, creeks, claypans, coastal swamps to peat bogs
Additional comments
A genus of about 25 species, many of which are amphibious. Centrolepis muscoides (Hook.f.) Hieron. grows as a perennial in submerged areas through the winter season. C. minima Kirk is aquatic or semi-aquatic, typically partially buried along lake margins. Centrolepis drummondiana is sometimes incorrectly refered to as Trithuria 'blood vomit'.
