Northeast Wetland Flora
Field Office Guide to Plant Species
Cladium mariscoides (Muhl.) Torr.
- Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
- Flowering: July-October
- Field Marks: Although this sedge superficially resembles species of beak rush (Rhynchospora), it differs by having no beak on the achene.
- Habitat: Marshes, swamps, usually in calcareous or saline areas.
- Habit: Perennial herb from slender stolons.
- Stems: Upright, slender, obscurely triangular, up to 3 feet tall.
- Leaves: Elongated, flat except for the inrolled tip, rough along the edges, up to 1/8 inch wide.
- Flowers: Borne in spikelets, with the spikelets in slender panicles up to 1 foot long; spikelets clustered in heads, oblong to lanceolate, up to 1/4 inch long, dark brown, the upper flowers with both stamens and pistils, the middle flowers only with stamens, the lowest scales empty; scales dark brown.
- Sepals: 0.
- Petals: 0.
- Stamens: 2.
- Pistils: Ovary superior; styles 2 or 3.
- Fruits: Achenes ovoid, flanged at the base, without a beak, dull brown, up to 1/6 inch long.
- Notes: The achenes are eaten by waterfowl.
Previous Species -- Three-seed Sedge (Carex trisperma)
Return to Species List -- Group 3
Next Species -- Many-flower Flatsedge (Cyperus lancastriensis)
