Chaffy saw sedge

Chaffy saw sedge
Image: Melburnian
Community type

Saline sedgeland/grassland

Habitat type

Saltmarsh and tidal flats

The Chaffy saw sedge occurs in the drier parts of saltmarshes, and is scattered along rocky shorelines in the middle and lower estuary. It is a tussock-forming plant with flat grassy leaves which It has brown flower spikes that form in summer. Its large tussocks can be more that 1m tall. The Chaffy saw sedge is distinguished from the sharply pointed coast spear grass by its soft, lightly curled leaf tips. Sedge skipper butterflies, including some rare species, use this plant for shelter during daylight hours, binding the leaves with silk. By night it feeds on the grass.

Much of the text within the species area of our website was written by Veronica Thorpe, as part of the Derwent River Wildlife Guide (2000).

The DEP has developed a variety of classroom and outdoor activities focused around the key estuary habitats of tidal wetlands, salt marshes and rocky reefs. These include classroom materials, online resources, interpretive walks, games and sensory experiences.