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Gahnia grandis
Cutting grass (Gahnia grandis) is a large, tussock-forming sedge from south-eastern Australia and Tasmania, with sharp, razor-edged leaves. It suits wet, open or partly shaded sites and is grown mainly for habitat and erosion control rather than tidy gardens.
Gahnia grandis is a tussock-forming perennial plant found in southeastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.
Originally described by botanist Jacques Labillardière as Scleria grandis in 1800, it was placed in its current genus by S. T. Blake in 1969. In Tasmania, Gahnia is the most widely seen genus, with seven native species. Six of these species are very large, erect graminoids with sharp-edged leaves resembling a razor, hence the common names cutting grass and cutty grass.
Its long, sharp-edged leaves and untidy appearance make cutting grass relatively unsuitable for horticulture. But the species is used for rehabilitation and the regeneration of vegetation as its hardiness and soil-retaining properties are useful in preventing soil erosion.
Gahnia species in general are difficult to propagate. Seed germination is the best method, as plant division and transplantation gives limited results. Due to seed dormancy, seeds will not germinate earlier than 12 months after maturity. Seeds are best collected by cutting off seed heads at the base using secateurs then placing them to dry for several days on a groundsheet. Thrashing may be needed to dislodge the seeds, which should then be dry-stored for better conservation.
Gahnia grandis originated in southern Australia. About 40 species are found in Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. The species is found particularly in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria, where it is native to areas such as the Gippsland plain, Wilsons Promontory, and Highlands-Southern Fall bioregions. Past records in Victoria show it at only two possible sites: the Gembrook-Beenak area, and the northern part of Wilsons Promontory.
Cutting grass has traditionally been used by indigenous peoples and Aboriginal Islanders for basket-weaving and rope-making. The nuts were pounded and ground into flour to make bread, and the young bases of plants growing in wetter locations may be eaten.
Gahnia ancistrophylla · Gahnia aristata · Round sawsedge · Gahnia australis · Gahnia baniensis · Forest sawsedge · Tall Saw Sedge · Gahnia decomposita · Heathy Saw Sedge · Gahnia drummondii · Gahnia erythrocarpa · Gahnia filifolia
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Gahnia grandis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
