Along our coastline Chaffy Saw-sedge is confined to the margins of brackish waterways like Spring Creek. Its large root system is important for stabilizing stream embankments from erosion whilst the large tussocks provide shelter for small mammals and birds. Butterflies and their caterpillars rely on numerous Gahnia species as important food plants.
This is a large perennial, leafy tussock to over a metre in height. Its foliage is flat to inrolled and the leaves have a slightly rough texture. Flowering occurs in spring with long, brown terminal spikes which produce many small nuts in early summer.