Wetland Plants – Core Species
Plants are an integral part of the function of a constructed wetland system. Core Species are those that have the characteristics to maximise pollutant removal. The list below was first published as part of the Wetland Technical Design Guideline WbD 2017
Regions: TSV – Townsville, MKY – Mackay, CQ – Central Queensland, SEQ – South East Queensland
Lifeforms: F – Floating macrophyte, S – Submerged macrophyte, E – Emergent macrophyte, G – Groundcover, SH – Shrub, T – Tree
Plant Zone Depth Range:
TE – Terrestrial > +0.2 m
EB – Ephemeral batter NWL to +0.2 m
SM – Shallow marsh NWL to -0.2 m
DM – Deep marsh -0.2 m to -0.4 m
SU – Submerged marsh -0.4 m to -0.7 m
Many thanks to Glenn Leiper, Paul Donatiu, Christoph Pester, Glenn Browning, Andrew Cook and Paul Dubowski for photo content
| I.D. | Species name | Common name | Planting zone | Lifeform | Region |
| 200 | Actinoscirpus grossus | Giant Bur Rush | SM, DM | E | TSV |
| 201 | Baumea articulata | Jointed Twig-rush | DM | E | ALL |
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| 202 | Bolboschoenus caldwellii | Sea Club-rush | SM | E | SEQ, CQ |
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| 203 | Bolboschoenus fluviatalis | Marsh Club-rush | DM | E | SEQ, CQ, MKY |
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| 204 | Cladium procerum | Leafy twig-rush | SM, DM | E | SEQ, CQ |
| 205 | Eleocharis acuta | Common Spike-rush | SM | E | SEQ |
| 206 | Eleocharis dulcis | Chinese Water Chestnut | SM, DM | E | ALL |
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| 207 | Eleocharis equisetina | Spike-rush | SM | E | SEQ, CQ |
| 208 | Eleocharis sphacelata | Tall Spike-rush | DM | E | SEQ, CQ, MKY |
| 209 | Lepironia articulata | Grey Rush | SM, DM | E | SEQ, CQ, MKY |
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| 210 | Phragmites australis | Common reed | SM, DM | E | ALL |
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| 211 | Schoenoplectus subulatus | Shore Club-rush | SM, DM | E | ALL |
| 212 | Schoenoplectus validus | River Club-rush | SM | E | ALL |
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| 213 | Triglochin procera | Water-ribbon | SM, DM | F | SEQ, CQ |
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| 214 | Ceratophyllum demersum | Hornwort | SU | S | ALL |
| 215 | Hydrilla verticillata | Water thyme | SU | S | ALL |
| 216 | Myriophyllum verrucosum | Red Water-milfoil | SU | S | SEQ, CQ |
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| 217 | Potamogeton ochreatus | Blunt Pondweed | SU | S | SEQ |
| 218 | Vallisneria australis | Ribbonweed | SU | S | SEQ, CQ |
Supplementary Species
Wet edge only *
| I.D. | Species name | Common name | Planting zone | Lifeform | Region |
| 300 | Baumea arthrophylla * | Fine Twig-rush | EB, SM | E | SEQ |
| 301 | Baumea juncea * | Bare Twig-rush | EB, SM | E | ALL |
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| 302 | Baumea rubiginosa * | Soft Twig-rush | EB | E | ALL |
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| 303 | Carex appressa | Tall Sedge | EB | E | SEQ, CQ |
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| 304 | Carex fasicularis * | Tassel Sedge | SM | E | SEQ, CQ |
| 305 | Carex gaudichadiana * | Tufted sedge | SM | E | SEQ |
| 306 | Carex polyantha * | Creek Sedge | EB | E | SEQ, CQ |
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| 307 | Cyperus alopecuroides | Foxtail Flat Sedge | EB, SM | E | MKY, TSV |
| 308 | Cyperus exaltatus * | Giant Sedge | SM | E | |
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| 309 | Cyperus gunnii * | Flecked Flat Sedge | EB | E | ALL |
| 310 | Cyperus javanicus | Javanese Flat Sedge | EB | E | CQ, MKY, TSV |
| 311 | Cyperus polystachyos | Bunchy Sedge | EB | E | ALL |
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| 312 | Eleocharis geniculata | Nodding Spike-rush | EM | E | ALL |
| 313 | Ficnia nodosa | Knobby Club-rush | EB | E | SEQ, CQ |
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| 314 | Isolepis inundata * | Swamp Club-rush | SM | E | ALL |
| 315 | Juncus flavidus | Yellow Rush | EB | E | SEQ |
| 316 | Juncus krausii | Sea Rush | EB, SM | E | SEQ, CQ |
| 317 | Juncus pristmatocarpus * | Branching Rush | EB, SM | E | SEQ, CQ |
| 318 | Juncus usitatus * | Common Rush | EB | E | ALL |
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| 319 | Ludwigia peploides * | Water Primrose | EB | E | ALL |
| 320 | Phylidrium lanuginosum | Woolly Water Lily | SM | E | ALL |
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| 321 | Schoenoplectus mucronatus | Bog Bulrush | SM | E | ALL |
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| 322 | Marsilea crenata | Nardoo | SM | F | MKY, TSV |
| 323 | Marsilea drummondii | Common Nardoo | SM | F | SEQ, CQ |
| 324 | Marsilea mutica | Banded Nardoo | SM | F | ALL |
| 325 | Nymphaea gigantea | Blue Water Lily | SU | F | ALL |
| 326 | Bacopa monnieri * | Bacopa | EB | G | SEQ, CQ, MKY |
| 327 | Baloskion pallens * | Cord Rush | EB | G | SEQ, CQ |
| 328 | Baloskion tetraphyllum * | Tassel Cord-rush | EB | G | SEQ, CQ |
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| 329 | Cynodon dactylon | Common couch | EB | G | ALL |
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| 330 | Eclipta prostrata | White Eclipta | EB | G | ALL |
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| 331 | Gahnia clarkei | Tall Saw-sedge | EB | G | SEQ, CQ |
| 332 | Gahnia siberiana | Red-fruited Sword Sedge | EB | G | SEQ, CQ, MKY |
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| 333 | Imperata cylindrica | Blady Grass | EB | G | ALL |
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| 334 | Ischaemum australe * | Southern Grass | EB, SM | G | ALL |
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| 335 | Ischaemum rugosum * | Ribbed Muraina Grass | EB, SM | G | MKY, TSV |
| 336 | Leersia hexandra | Swamp Rice Grass | EB, SM | G | ALL |
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| 337 | Lepidosperma longitudinale | Common Sword-sedge | EB | G | SEQ, CQ |
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| 338 | Leptochloa neesii * | Umbrella Canegrass | EB, SM | G | TSV |
| 339 | Lomandra hystrix | River Mat Rush | EB | G | ALL |
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| 340 | Lomandra longifolia | Spiny-headed Mat Rush | EB | G | ALL |
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| 341 | Oryza australiensis * | Native Rice | EB | G | MKY, TSV |
| 342 | Persicaria decipiens * | Slender Knotweed | EB | G | ALL |
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| 343 | Persicaria strigosa* | Spotted Knotweed | EB | G | ALL |
| 344 | Poa labillardieri | Tussock Grass | EB | G | SEQ, CQ |
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| 345 | Pseudoraphis spinescens* | Spiny Mud Grass | EB | G | ALL |
| 346 | Leptospermum liversidgei | Lemon-scented Tea-tree | EB | SH | SEQ |
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| 347 | Myriophyllum verrucosum | Red Water Milfoil | DM, SU | S | ALL |
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| 348 | Potamogeton tricarinatus | Floating Pondweed | SU | S | ALL |
