Author

Omar Zapata

Best recognition factors

Long rhizomes with flowering stems arising at intervals; leaves not evident;  many flowering stems have only 1 terminal spikelet and have a resemblance to Eleocharis.

Ecology

Wet sands, peaty sands, lake and pond shores, boggy areas, cypress prairies, ditches.

Family

Cyperaceae, sedge family

Flowering period

Summer to fall.

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Flowers

Flowers: Stamens 3, style branches 3.  Perianth consists of 3 hyaline, retrorsely barbed bristles and 3 orange, paddle-shaped scales each with a prominent central ridge and small teeth along margin.  A single floral bract subtends each flower in the spikelet.  Floral bracts usually with 3 central nerves and fringed by a wide membranous margin.

Habit and stem features

Perennial, herbaceous and conspicuously rhizomatous.  Flowering stems arise at intervals.

Inflorescences

Can be a single terminal spikelet, or 2-3 spikelets in a tight cluster.  Inflorescence subtended by 1 bract.  Young spikelets green with exserted red style branches from flowers.  Older spikelets tan.

Leaves

Leaves mostly sheath, blades absent, or cusp-like; sheaths glabrous.

References

Godfrey, R. K. and J. W. Wooten. 1979. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Southeastern United States, Monocotyledons.University of Georgia Press, Athens.

Kral, Robert. 2002. Fuirena Rottboll. In: Flora of North America North of Mexico . Flora North America Editorial Committee. Vol. 23. Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford .

Louisiana State University Herbarium database (http://www.herbarium.lsu.edu, 31 October 2006).

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Species name

Fuirena scirpoidea Michx.

Synonyms

Scirpus scirpoideus (Michx.) T. Koyama