{{Short description|Species of grass-like plant}} {{Italic title}} {{Speciesbox | name = Rough saw sedge | image = Gahnia Red Cedar Flat - Royal National Park.jpg | image_caption = | genus = Gahnia | species = aspera | authority = (R.Br.) Spreng. | synonyms = *''Cladium asperum'' {{small|(R.Br.) F.Muell.}} *''Lampocarya aspera'' <small>R.Br.</small> *''Mariscus asper'' <small>(R.Br.) Kuntze</small> |synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo>{{cite web |title=''Gahnia aspera'' (R.Br.) Spreng. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:308569-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref> }}

'''''Gahnia aspera''''' known as the '''rough saw-sedge''' or '''round sawsedge''' is a tussock forming perennial plant, often seen in moist situations. The long strap like leaves grow to 80&nbsp;cm long.<ref>Cundall. P., (2008) Native Plants: The definitive guide to Australian plants, Global Book Publishing Lane Cove, N.S.W, page 68, {{ISBN|978-1-74048-027-7}}</ref>

Originally described by botanist Robert Brown as ''Lampocarya aspera'' in his 1810 work ''Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae'',<ref>{{APNI | name = ''Lampocarya aspera'' R.Br. | id = 188}}</ref> it was placed in its current genus by German botanist Curt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel in 1825.<ref>{{APNI | name = ''Gahnia aspera'' (R.Br.) Spreng. | id = 27489}}</ref> Its specific name ''aspera'' is the Latin adjective ''asper'' "rough".<ref name=EJ>{{cite encyclopedia |author1=Elliot, Rodger W. |author2=Jones, David L. | year = 1986 | title = Eu-Go | editor = Elliot, Rodger W. |editor2=Jones, David L. | encyclopedia = Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation | volume = 4 | page = 324 | publisher = Lothian Publishing | isbn = 0-85091-213-X}}</ref>

''Gahnia aspera'' grows as a strappy tussock {{convert|50|–|100|cm|in|abbr=on}} high by {{convert|50|-|150|cm|in|abbr=on}} across, with leaves to {{convert|80|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=EJ/> The underside of the leaves and leaf edges are sharp and can easily cut human skin. The creamy flowers grow in spikes from the centre of the plant and appear from October to January. They are followed by shiny red or red-brown round nuts, which measure 4.5 to 6.0&nbsp;mm long, 2.5 to 4.0&nbsp;mm in diameter.<ref name=plantnet>{{cite web |title=Gahnia aspera|work=PlantNET - NSW Flora Online|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Gahnia~aspera|accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref>

Two subspecies are accepted.<ref name = powo/> *''Gahnia aspera'' subsp. ''aspera'' – Cook Islands, Fiji, Maluku Islands, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New South Wales, Ogasawara Islands, Queensland, Society Islands, Tubuai Islands, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna *''Gahnia aspera'' subsp. ''globosa'' {{small|(H.Mann) J.Kern}} – Hawaiian Islands (Oahu)

It is found in a variety of situations, from rainforest to drier inland areas such as Rankins Springs and the Pilliga Scrub district in New South Wales.<ref name=plantnet/> Also seen in Queensland, Malaysia, New Guinea and islands in the Pacific.<ref name=EJ/>

The caterpillars of the spotted sedge-skipper (''Hesperilla ornata''),<ref>Braby, p. 68.</ref> two-spotted sedge-skipper (''Hesperilla malindeva''),<ref>Braby, p. 74.</ref> and flame sedge-skipper (''Hesperilla idothea'') feed on the leaves.<ref>Braby, p. 72.</ref>

''Gahnia aspera'' is relatively easy to grow and benefits from a moist position in the garden for best foliage. It grows in semi-shade or some sun and has horticultural appeal in its foliage and nuts, but is not widely grown as propagation by seed is difficult. It also serves as shelter in the garden for small birds such as the superb fairywren.<ref name=EJ/>

The seeds were used by Aboriginal Australians to make a kind of flour.<ref name=EJ/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

===Cited text=== *{{cite book|last=Braby|first=Michael F.|title=Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia|url=https://archive.org/details/The_Complete_Field_Guide_to_Butterflies_of_Australia|publisher=CSIRO Publishing|location=Collingwood, Victoria|year=2004|isbn=0-643-09027-4}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q5516930}}

aspera Category:Flora of New South Wales Category:Flora of Queensland Category:Flora of New Guinea Category:Flora of Malesia Category:Flora of the Pacific Category:Poales of Australia Category:Plants described in 1810 Category:Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773) Category:Bushfood