Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains
62. Cyperaceae, the Sedge Family
5. Elocharis R. Br. -- Spikesedge, spikerush3. Eleocharis erythropoda Steud. -- Spikerush
Rhizomatous perennial 1-7 dm tall; culms terete, rigid, 0.5-1.5 mm thick; sheaths reddish or purplish toward the base, usually firm, truncate to oblique at the orifice. Spikelets ovoid to lance-cylindric, acuminate to blunt, 5-15(20) mm long, 2-4 mm thick; sterile basal scale 1, encircling the culm; floriferous scales many, brown, reddish-brown or pale on the sides, green or pale on the midvein, lanceolate to ovate, 2.5-4.5 mm long; perianth variable, usually of 2-6 white to pale brown bristles, shorter than to exceeding the achene; styles bifid. Achenes yellow to brown, biconvex, 1.2-1.7 mm long excluding the tubercle, 0.9-1.3 mm wide; tubercle thick, deltoid to conic, 0.25-0.7 mm high, 0.2-0.6 mm wide, constricted at the base. Jun--Aug. Marshes, wet meadows, ditches, shores and stream banks; common, often abundant; (e Que. to n Sask. and sw Mack., s to VA, TN, n TX, CO and NM). E. calva Torr., E. palustris (L.) R. & S.
Previous Section -- Eleocharis compressa Sulliv. -- Flatstem spikesedge
Return to Family -- Cyperaceae - The Sedge Family
Next Section -- Eleocharis macrostachya Britt. -- Spikerush
