Lepidosperma gladiatum Labill.

A herb or sedge. It grows to form clumps. These are up to 1.5 m high. The stems are rigid and dark at the base. It sends out underground stems from which new tufts arise. It has long sword-like leaves. These are dark green and thickened at the base. The leaves have sharp edges. The leaves are 1 m long and 2 cm wide. The brown flowers are on leaf like flowering stems. The flower heads are 15 cm long by 6 cm wide. It has 1 or 2 flowers on spikelets. These are 7-10 mm long. The flowers have yellow bracts. The fruit is a small oval nut about 3 mm long. The pale lower end of the stem is edible.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in dune areas and coastal woodlands. It grows in the wetter parts of sand dunes. It grows along the southern Australian coasts. It can stand moderate frosts. It can also stand extended dry periods. Tasmanian Herbarium.

A part of the base of the stem can be eaten raw or roasted. The blanched portion has a nutty flavour.

Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinates within 55-90 days.