Rhynchospora scirpoides
Cat. Pl. Cub., 247. 1866.
Illustrator:
Copyright:
Plants annual, cespitose, (20–)30–80(–100) cm; rhizomes absent. Culms erect or ascending, leafy, nearly terete or obscurely angular, many-ribbed, stiff. Leaves exceeding or exceeded by inflorescences; blades linear, proximally flat, 1–5 mm wide, apex trigonous, tapering. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, clusters of corymbs 1–5, diffuse, branches ascending to divaricate; leafy bracts much exceeding axillary corymbs. Spikelets redbrown to dark brown, ovoidlanceoloid, 3–6(–7) mm, apex acute; fertile scales several, narrowly ovate, 2.5–3.5 mm, apex narrowly acute; midrib included or shortexcurrent. Flowers: perianth absent. Fruits 1.3–1.5 mm; body brown to blackish, tumidly lenticular, nearly orbicular, 0.6–1 × 0.6–1 mm, margins distinct, narrow, flowing into base of tubercle; tubercle flat, narrowly triangular, at least 0.5 mm high, base broadly 2-lobed, apex acuminate.
Phenology: Fruiting summer–fall or all year (south).
Habitat: Moist to wet sands or peats of banks of streams and ditches, pond and lakeshores, depressions in savannas, marshes, often in moist to wet disturbed areas
Elevation: 0–200 m
Distribution
Ala., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., Ind., La., Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., N.J., N.Y., N.C., R.I., S.C., Tex., Va., Wis., West Indies.
Discussion
Selected References
None.