Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Slender Spikerush - Eleocharis tenuis var. pseudoptera   (Weatherby ex Svenson) Svenson
Members of Cyperaceae:
Members of Eleocharis with account distribution info or public map:
Google Images
Section 5 » Order Cyperales » Family Cyperaceae
Show/Hide Synonym
Author(Weatherby ex Svenson) Svenson
DistributionScattered across the state, with a large gap in the Coastal Plain. We populated our map with specimens cited by Gibbons and McMullen (2019, JBRIT 13: 71-81), plus annotated specimens at NCU.

ME to NY and eastern PA, south to NC.
AbundanceApparently uncommon (or overlooked?) in NC. We suggest a state rank of S2 at present.
HabitatMeadows, marshes, streamsides, roadside ditches, seepages, "bogs".
Phenology
IdentificationVar. pseudoptera differs from var. tenuis mainly in its finely but sharply ridged (lengthwise) culms. Achene tubercle is depressed in the former, pyramidal in the latter.
Taxonomic CommentsFormerly lumped within E. tenuis, but convincingly treated as a distinct variety by Gibbons and McMullen.

The genus Eleocharis, the spikerushes, are unusual members of the sedge family in that the culms (flowering stems) are round or oval (rarely triangular) in cross-section, rather than triangular in the great majority of our sedges. In addition, leaf blades are absent; just 1-2 basal sheaths are present at the base of the culm. There is a single, cylindrical or narrowly ovoid, spikelet of florets at the culm summit. Details of achene (seed) shape, color, ornamentation, bristle length, and beak (tubercle) shape and size, are critical ID factors.
Other Common Name(s)
State RankS2
Global RankG5T5?
State Status
US Status
USACE-agcp
USACE-emp
County Map - click on a county to view source of record.
Select a source
AllHerbaria
Select an occurrence type
AllCollection_natural