Native Wetland Plants found in NSW Wetlands

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The Native Plants of NSW Wetlands - Emergent Plants
Shallow emergents grow in water up to about 0.5 m deep. This zone contains most of the waterplant species. Deep emergents are plants that thrive in water more than 1 m deep.¹

Some examples include:

Natives

Alisma plantango-aquatica - Water Plantain

Source: Geoff Sainty

Baumea articulata - Jointed Twigrush

Source: Geoff Sainty

Usually grows in water less than 1 m deep. Grows in clumps and provides a habitat for waterbirds.

Cotula coronopifolia - Waterbuttons

Source: Geoff Sainty

The crab, Amarinus lacustris is often found in association with this plant.

Cyperus sp., Carex spp. - Sedges

Sedges
Source: DLWC

Source: Simon Mitrovic

Sedges are very common in the freshwater wetlands of NSW. Superficially they resemble grasses, but they are actually very different. Stems are triangular in shape.

Cyperus difformis - Rice Sedge

Source: Geoff Sainty

A native annual that is commonly found in ricebays.

Cyperus exaltatus - Giant Sedge

Damasonium minus - Starfruit

Source: DLWC

A native emergent with distinctive star shaped fruit. The fruit is a source of food for waterbirds. Can be a problem in rice fields as it competes with rice.

Eleocharis spp. - Spikerush

Source: Geoff Sainty

The fruit of the spikerush is eaten by waterbirds. The rush is also used by waterbirds for nesting material.

Eleocharis sphacelata - Tall spikerush

Has cylindrical stems and usually grows in dense clumps which provide cover and nesting sites for waterbirds.

Eragrostis australasica - Cane Grass

Source: Geoff Sainty

One of the four major types of reeds in NSW. Cane Grass is quite sparse in comparison with other reeds and rushes and is therefore favoured by waterbirds which are able to take off and land between its stems. It provides habitat for frogs, which feed on the abundant insect life. Frogs are then in turn eaten by larger animals (Sainty & Jacobs, 1981).

Juncus sp. - Rushes

The round, robust stem of these rushes are able to support the nests of large birds such as the Sacred Ibis.

Juncus usitatus - Common Rush

Source: DLWC

A native rush that grows in damp and saturated soils. Provides cover and nesting sites for waterbirds.

Leersia hexandra - Swamp Rice Grass

Lepidosperma spp.

Has very hard stems which protect the water surface from wind. Also provides a sheltered habitat for a variety of aquatic invertebrates (Gould League, 1989).

Lepironia articulata

A native plant with cylindrical stems. Grows in clumps and provides both habitat and food for waterbirds.

Lythrum salicaria - Purple Loosestrife

Source: Geoff Sainty

Usually grows in damp ground, has bright pinkish-purple flowers.

Maundia triglochinoides

Source: Simon Mitrovic

Provides both habitat and food for waterbirds and other aquatic animals. Has distinctive bright yellow flowers that grow on a large spike.

Paspalum distichum - Water Couch

Source: DLWC

Ideal habitat for aquatic invertebrates. The seeds of this plant are also a food source for many waterbirds (Gould League, 1989).

Persicaria - Slender Knotweed/Smartweeds

The smartweeds often form dense mats along the edge of waterbodies.

Persicaria decipiens (synonym Polygonum decipiens)

Source: Simon Mitrovic

A native herb that forms dense clumps in summer. Usually found along the margins of wetlands (Sainty & Jacobs, 1994).

Persicaria lapathifolium (synonym Polygonum lapathifolium)

A native herb. Usually found along the margins of wetlands.

Philydrum lanuginosum - Frogsmouth

Phragmites australis - Common Reed

Source: DLWC

One of the four major types of reeds in NSW. The leaves of the common reed are much softer than the leaves of other reeds such as Typha spp. It is therefore used as a nesting site by many small birds such as the Reed Warbler. It can grow in water over 1m deep (Gould League, 1989).

Pseudoraphis spinescens - Spiney Mudgrass or Moira Grass

Source: Geoff Sainty

Flourishes after flooding and provides food for kangaroos and habitat for waterbirds, amphibians and insects. It is the main groundcover in wetlands such as the Barmah Forest (Gould League, 1989).

Triglochin procerum - Water Ribbons

Source: DLWC

A native species that is part of the habitat for invertebrates, fish and waterbirds.

Typha spp - Cumbungi

Source: Geoff Sainty

A common emergent species of shallow inland lakes. One of the four major types of reeds in NSW. Dense clumps of this reed provide excellent shelter for aquatic invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and waterbirds.

Villarsia exaltata - Erect Marsh-flower

Source: Geoff Sainty

The leaves of this aquatic plant provide food and shelter to a variety of aquatic invertebrates.

Introduced Emergent Plants

Please click here to view and read more about some of the water weeds that are found in the wetlands of NSW.

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Copyright © 2000 - NSW Department of Natural Resources
www.naturalresources.nsw.gov.au

Wetlands Facts about Wetlands Wetland Plants and Animals Native Plants Search: [ HOME ] [ CONTACT ]		The Native Plants of NSW Wetlands - Emergent Plants Shallow emergents grow in water up to about 0.5 m deep. This zone contains most of the waterplant species. Deep emergents are plants that thrive in water more than 1 m deep.¹ Some examples include: Natives Alisma plantango-aquatica - Water Plantain Source: Geoff Sainty Baumea articulata - Jointed Twigrush *Source: Geoff Sainty* Usually grows in water less than 1 m deep. Grows in clumps and provides a habitat for waterbirds. *Cotula coronopifolia* - Waterbuttons *Source: Geoff Sainty* The crab, Amarinus lacustris is often found in association with this plant. *Cyperus sp., Carex spp.* - Sedges Sedges Source: DLWC *Source: Simon Mitrovic* Sedges are very common in the freshwater wetlands of NSW. Superficially they resemble grasses, but they are actually very different. Stems are triangular in shape. *Cyperus difformis* - Rice Sedge *Source: Geoff Sainty* A native annual that is commonly found in ricebays. Cyperus exaltatus - Giant Sedge *Damasonium minus* - Starfruit Source: DLWC A native emergent with distinctive star shaped fruit. The fruit is a source of food for waterbirds. Can be a problem in rice fields as it competes with rice. Eleocharis spp. - Spikerush *Source: Geoff Sainty* The fruit of the spikerush is eaten by waterbirds. The rush is also used by waterbirds for nesting material. Eleocharis sphacelata - Tall spikerush Has cylindrical stems and usually grows in dense clumps which provide cover and nesting sites for waterbirds. *Eragrostis australasica* - Cane Grass *Source: Geoff Sainty* One of the four major types of reeds in NSW. Cane Grass is quite sparse in comparison with other reeds and rushes and is therefore favoured by waterbirds which are able to take off and land between its stems. It provides habitat for frogs, which feed on the abundant insect life. Frogs are then in turn eaten by larger animals (Sainty & Jacobs, 1981). Juncus sp. - Rushes The round, robust stem of these rushes are able to support the nests of large birds such as the Sacred Ibis. *Juncus usitatus* - Common Rush *Source: DLWC* A native rush that grows in damp and saturated soils. Provides cover and nesting sites for waterbirds. *Leersia hexandra* - Swamp Rice Grass *Lepidosperma spp.* Has very hard stems which protect the water surface from wind. Also provides a sheltered habitat for a variety of aquatic invertebrates (Gould League, 1989). *Lepironia articulata* A native plant with cylindrical stems. Grows in clumps and provides both habitat and food for waterbirds. *Lythrum salicaria* - Purple Loosestrife *Source: Geoff Sainty* Usually grows in damp ground, has bright pinkish-purple flowers. *Maundia triglochinoides* *Source: Simon Mitrovic* Provides both habitat and food for waterbirds and other aquatic animals. Has distinctive bright yellow flowers that grow on a large spike. Paspalum distichum - Water Couch Source: DLWC Ideal habitat for aquatic invertebrates. The seeds of this plant are also a food source for many waterbirds (Gould League, 1989). Persicaria - Slender Knotweed/Smartweeds The smartweeds often form dense mats along the edge of waterbodies. *Persicaria decipiens (synonym Polygonum decipiens)* *Source: Simon Mitrovic* A native herb that forms dense clumps in summer. Usually found along the margins of wetlands (Sainty & Jacobs, 1994). *Persicaria lapathifolium (synonym Polygonum lapathifolium)* A native herb. Usually found along the margins of wetlands. *Philydrum lanuginosum* - Frogsmouth Phragmites australis - Common Reed *Source: DLWC* One of the four major types of reeds in NSW. The leaves of the common reed are much softer than the leaves of other reeds such as Typha spp. It is therefore used as a nesting site by many small birds such as the Reed Warbler. It can grow in water over 1m deep (Gould League, 1989). Pseudoraphis spinescens - Spiney Mudgrass or Moira Grass Source: Geoff Sainty Flourishes after flooding and provides food for kangaroos and habitat for waterbirds, amphibians and insects. It is the main groundcover in wetlands such as the Barmah Forest (Gould League, 1989). Triglochin procerum - Water Ribbons *Source: DLWC* A native species that is part of the habitat for invertebrates, fish and waterbirds. Typha spp - Cumbungi *Source: Geoff Sainty* A common emergent species of shallow inland lakes. One of the four major types of reeds in NSW. Dense clumps of this reed provide excellent shelter for aquatic invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and waterbirds. Villarsia exaltata - Erect Marsh-flower *Source: Geoff Sainty* The leaves of this aquatic plant provide food and shelter to a variety of aquatic invertebrates. *Introduced Emergent Plants* Please click here to view and read more about some of the water weeds that are found in the wetlands of NSW.

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	Copyright © 2000 - NSW Department of Natural Resources www.naturalresources.nsw.gov.au