Rhynchospora compressa
Rhynchospora decurrens
flatfruit beaksedge
swampforest beaksedge
erect to ascending, leafiest at base, triangular, slender, somewhat stiff.
lax, erect to ascending-excurved, ± terete, leafy, slender, soft.
exceeded by culm;
basal blades crowded, spreadingexcurved, distal ascending, linear, proximally flat, 3–5 mm wide, apex trigonous, shortsubulate.
exceeded by inflorescence;
blades erect or ascending, linear, proximally flat, 2–4 mm wide, apex trigonous, subulate, tapering.
spikelet clusters 3–5, compact, the proximalmost widely spaced, turbinate or lobed to hemispheric; leafy bracts setaceous, mostly overtopping clusters.
spikelet clusters 4–6, widely spaced, loose, broadly to narrowly turbinate, paniculate, branches capillary, ultimate branches with 1 or 2 spikelets; leafy bracts exceeding proximal clusters, setaceous.
redbrown, broadly ovoid, 3–3.5(–4) mm, apex acuminate;
fertile scales broadly ovate to ± orbiculate, 2–2.5(–3) mm, apex rounded to notched, midrib included or shortexcurrent.
solitary or in 2s, brown, ovoid, 2.5–3.5 mm;
fertile scales ovate, 1.5–2.2 mm, apex acute, apiculate.
perianth bristles 6, reaching from fruit midbody to tubercle, antrorsely barbellate.
perianth bristles 6, reaching tubercle base or slightly beyond, antrorsely barbellate.
1–2 per spikelet, (2–)2.5–2.8(–3) mm;
body brownish, broadly obovoid to nearly orbicular, 1.5–2 × 1.5–2 mm;
surfaces strongly transversely wavyrugose, intervals rows of vertical, rectangular alveolae;
tubercle conic-subulate, basal rim flaring above short neck on achene.
2–3 per spikelet, 1.5–1.6(–1.8) mm;
body brown or greenish, obovoid, lenticular, 1.1–1.2(–1.3) × 0.7–1 mm, margins narrow, distinct, sharp, flowing to tubercle;
surfaces finely transversely wavyrugulose, intervals of fine, nearly isodiametric or vertical-rectangular pitlike alveolae;
tubercle lowtriangular, entire, 0.3–0.4 mm.
Rhynchospora compressa
Rhynchospora decurrens
Rhynchospora compressa is very closely akin to R. recognita and even coarser; inflorescence clusters are about as bristly and fertile scales blunter than those in R. recognita. It is less inclined to have an excurrent midrib, and the fruit is flatter. Both species often produce sterile spikelets, sometimes comprising an entire inflorescence.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Rhynchospora decurrens superficially resembles R. mixta, with which it is often associated in swamp forests. Its narrower fruit bodies with less distinct transverse rugosity; the smaller, more numerous rows of finer, pitlike alveolae; and its broader, lower tubercles with non-setose edges all comprise consistent differences. The name decurrens is apt, calling attention to the narrow, wirelike pale margins that extend from tubercle base to near the base of the fruit body.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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