Beak-sedges and allies
What are they?
Included in this group, you will find all the members of the sedge family other than the true sedges (in the genus Carex). They are a very variable bunch and between them make up the vast majority of those tricky little brown and green things that seem to proliferate in wetland habitats.
Where are they found?
These are very much plants of wetlands and often form the majority of vegetation in swamps and bogs. A few species grow in drier habitats and some grow standing in permanently wet areas.
Identification
Identification of plants in this group can be very difficult, with the problem compounded by misidentifications in books in the past. It is often necessary to use a hand lens to look at the smaller parts of flowering and/or fruiting heads. It is often important to study the structure of the fruiting body, known as an achene, which usually has a tubercle on top, like a small hat. In the nut-rushes, the surface texture or patterning of the achene is important. The beak-sedges are more complex and it is necessary to note the length and shape of the tubercle, the length of any surrounding bristles, and whether those bristles have barbs on them that are pointing toward the tip (antrorse) or back toward the base (retrorse). The achenes can be extracted easily from August onward, by rubbing the fruiting heads between finger and thumb - a x10 hand lens is necessary to observe the features.
Tall Horned Beak-sedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
An uncommon species of wet bottomlands and bogs which can be found scattered in suitable ground in the northern part of Cape May County. Flowers July to August. A very distinctive plant when the fruits have their long horns fully developed.
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Brownish Beak-sedge Rhynchospora capitellata
Not uncommon in boggy ground where it can occur either as odd, individual plants, or in small colonies. Flowers July to August. Stems have clusters of chocolate-brown flowers arranged along their length, rather than just at the top. Achene rounded with a short stem at the base; bristles with retrorse barbs. Bristles about as long as the elongate tubercle.
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Loose-headed Beak-sedge Rhynchospora chalarocephala
Not uncommon in boggy ground where it can occur either as odd, individual plants, or in small colonies. Flowers July to August. Stems have clusters of chestnut-brown flowers arranged along their length, rather than just at the top. Achene slightly elongate with a longish stem at the base; bristles with retrorse barbs. Bristles slightly longer than the elongate tubercle.
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Bunched Beak-sedge Rhynchospora cephalantha
An uncommon species found in seasonally flooded, grassy savannas. Flowers July to August. Each stem usually only carries two flower clusters, borne toward the top of the stem. The flower clusters tend to be a little larger than those of other beak-sedges. Achene relatively large and rounded with a longish stem at the base; bristles with antrorse barbs. Bristles slightly longer than the elongate tubercle.
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White Beak-sedge Rhynchospora alba
Widespread and often quite common, especially in sphagnum bogs and old cranberry bogs. Flowers July to August. Readily told from other beak-sedges by its whitish flower heads.
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Brown Beak-sedge Rhynchospora fusca
Locally common in old cranberry bogs. Flowers June to July, typically a little earlier than other beak-sedges. Stems have small clusters of rusty brown flowers at the top, the flower clusters being somewhat narrow in outline.
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Thread-leaved Beak-sedge Rhynchospora filifolia
An uncommon species of seasonally wet savannas and old cranberry bogs in the north of the county. Flowers July to August. A small, slender-stemmed species that is easily overlooked in stands of taller vegetation. When growing in open sites, the weak stems often flop over and trail on the ground. Flower heads relatively small and pale-colored. Achenes with a pale patch on the side and bristles about the same length as the relatively short but pointed tubercle.
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Slender Beak-sedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
An uncommon species of seasonally wet savannas and old cranberry bogs in the north of the county. Flowers July to August. A small, slender species that is easily overlooked in stands of taller vegetation. Flower heads relatively small but rather open and spreading. Achenes rounded and without a basal stem; bristles about the same length as the relatively long tubercle.
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Smooth Saw-sedge Cladium mariscoides
Widespread and often common, in sphagnum bogs, swamps and other more or less permanent wetlands. Flowers and fruit June to August. Often forms extensive stands of dominant vegetation. Leaves are flattened like grass leaves and have a strongly indented midrib. Fruits are relatively large, cone-shaped and very hard.
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in the center |
Whip Nut-rush Scleria triglomerata
Uncommon in open, low ground that may be swampy or at least prone to winter flooding. Flowers and fruit July to September. Tallest of the nut-rushes, growing up to three feet high. As with all nut-rushes, the white 'nutlets' are important for identification; in this species, they are smooth-coated.
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pendulous |
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and stem |
Netted Nut-rush Scleria reticularis
Uncommon in open, low ground that may be swampy or at least prone to winter flooding. Flowers and fruit July to September. As with all nut-rushes, the white 'nutlets' are important for identification; in this species, they have a netted or 'reticulate' surface.
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netted surface |