Southern Wetland Flora
Field Office Guide to Plant Species
Rhynchospora fascicularis (Michx.) Vahl
- Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
- Flowering: July-September
- Field Marks: This beakrush differs from all other species of Rhynchospora by its smooth achenes that are much longer than the bristles. None of the leaves is as long as the stiff stem.
- Habitat: Sloughs, sandy shores, low pinelands, flatwoods, swamps, roadsides, wet clearings.
- Habit: Tufted perennial.
- Stems: Upright, coarse, stiff, unbranched, smooth, up to 3 1/4 feet tall.
- Leaves: Elongated, flat, smooth, 1/10-1/6 inch wide, shorter than the stem.
- Flowers: Borne in spikelets, with spikelets in terminal and axillary clusters.
- Spikelets: 2- to 3-flowered, ovoid, brown, up to 1/5 inch long.
- Sepals: 0.
- Petals: 0.
- Stamens: 3.
- Pistils: Ovary superior.
- Fruits: Achenes ellipsoid to nearly round, brown except for a yellowish center, smooth, about 1/12 inch long, subtended by 5-6 bristles much shorter than the achenes; bristles with upward pointing hairs.
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