Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains
62. Cyperaceae, the Sedge Family
5. Elocharis R. Br. -- Spikesedge, spikerush7. Eleocharis pauciflora (Lightf.) Link -- Few-flowered spikesedge
Small rhizomatous perennial (0.5)1-3 dm tall; culms arising in small tufts or solitary, filiform, longitudinally grooved, less than 1 mm thick; sheaths firm, oblique at the summit. Spikelets ovoid, 4-8 mm long, 2-3 mm thick; scales all floriferous, usually 3-9, pale to deep brown, narrowly ovate, scarious on the margins, 2.5-5.5 mm long, the lowest scales longer than the upper ones; perianth shorter than to equaling or exceeding the achene; styles trifid. Achenes grayish-brown or brown, trigonous, 0.9-2.8 mm long including the tubercle, ca. 1/2 as wide; tubercle slender, confluent with the achene and appearing like a beak. Jun--Aug. Fens, old bogs and springy areas; uncommon and scattered from ND to NE; (Circumboreal, in N.Amer. s to NJ, IL, MN, NE, NM and CA).
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