These types of plants are called “Sword-sedge” because the margins of their leaves are finely toothed, very sharp, and can cut very easily. The Latin translatation of lepido is scaly and sperma means seed, so Lepidosperma have scaly seeds.

The plant has scaly seeds and the flowers attract butterflies, and the seeds attract birds. Aboriginals use it in basket making, using the reddish lower stalks to provide colour contrast.

Variable Sword-sedge is widespread in shady locations on sandy soil, occurring along upper slopes of gullies at Manna Park, such as at map coordinates 58 336, 18 978.

Click on any of the photos to download a higher resolution image (T.Hastings).