Mesomelaena tetragonaCommon name: Semaphore Sedge
Meaning of name: Mesomelaena is from the Greek words mesos, meaning middle, and melaino, meaning to turn black. It refers to the involucral bracts described as dark or black with pale hyaline margins. Tetragona is from the Greek word tetragonos, meaning with four equal angles, square.
Distribution: Occurs from Geraldton to Cape Arid National Park.
Description: A herb to 80 centimetres tall. Flowers are borne from April to November.
References: Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.
Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.
Mesomelaena tetragona gets its common name from the angle formation of the bract and awn on the inflorescence.
Flowers can appear between April and November.
Spent flower heads give Mesomelaena tetragona its distinctive appearance.
A large Mesomelaena tetragona with stems 0.3 to 0.5m high.
