Burke: Rhynchospora alba

	Rhynchospora alba
	white beakrush
Habit	Densely tufted perennial, the slender culms 1.5-5 dm. tall.
Leaves	Cauline leaves several, the lowest reduced to scales, the others slender and elongate, channeled to flat.
Flowers	Inflorescence of 1-3 compact, head-like clusters 5-15 mm. wide, the terminal one the largest, subtended by a single bract about equal to the head; the lateral ones, when present, on peduncles and arising from the sheaths of leaves; spikelets light brown, 3.5-5 mm. long, 2-flowered; perianth of 10-12 stiff bristles, longer than the achene; scales subtending the flowers scarious, with 1-2 empty scales below and above the flowers; stamens usually 3; style bifid, the branches elongate.
Fruits	Achenes lenticular, bi-convex, 1.5-2 mm. long, tapered to a narrow base and capped by an elongate, narrow tubercle.

	Rhynchospora alba
Flowering time	July-August
Habitat	Sphagnum bogs and other wet places, lowlands to mid-elevations in the mountains
Distribution	Alaska to California, east to Idaho, and throughout northeastern United states. [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Origin	Native
Conservation status	Not of concern
Web links	Local floras: BC, CA, OR, WA Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Flora NW, PNW Herbaria WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search

Rhynchospora alba

white beakrush

Habit

Densely tufted perennial, the slender culms 1.5-5 dm. tall.

Leaves

Cauline leaves several, the lowest reduced to scales, the others slender and elongate, channeled to flat.

Flowers

Inflorescence of 1-3 compact, head-like clusters 5-15 mm. wide, the terminal one the largest, subtended by a single bract about equal to the head; the lateral ones, when present, on peduncles and arising from the sheaths of leaves;

spikelets light brown, 3.5-5 mm. long, 2-flowered;

perianth of 10-12 stiff bristles, longer than the achene;

scales subtending the flowers scarious, with 1-2 empty scales below and above the flowers;

stamens usually 3;

style bifid, the branches elongate.

Fruits

Achenes lenticular, bi-convex, 1.5-2 mm. long, tapered to a narrow base and capped by an elongate, narrow tubercle.