Citation: R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 224 (1810).

Synonymy: Eleocharis pallens, Heleocharis acuta

Common name: Common spike-rush.

Description:
Rhizome slender, woody, bearing tufts of stems at intervals; stems to 90 cm high, usually 1-2 mm wide or sometimes slightly more; mouth of uppermost sheath dark-brown, somewhat thickened, truncate or nearly so, prominently mucronate.

Spikelet linear, more or less acute, usually darkbrown or variegated with brown, 15-30 mm long; glumes ovate-lanceolate, subobtuse to very acute at the triangular apex, 3.5-4 mm long, 1-nerved; stamens 3.

Nut broadly obovate, 1.5-1.8 x 1.1-1.3 mm, plano-convex to biconvex, often turgid, margins obtuse, sides smooth or somewhat rough, yellow to brown, shiny; style base ovate to triangular, laterally compressed, 0.4-0.8 x 0.5-0.7 mm, whitish or discoloured, cellular; hypogynous bristles usually 7, longer than the nut, strongly retrorsely toothed.

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 164.

Distribution:  Grows in wet places. S.Aust.: GT, FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   All States except the N.T.   New Zealand. Conservation status: native Flowering time: mainly Sept. — April.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available