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Photo is of parent taxon

globe beaksedge

Habit Plants mostly 30–50 cm.
Spikelets

dark brown, nearly globose to ovoid, mostly 2 mm.

Flowers

perianth bristles rarely extending past fruit midbody.

Fruit

body distinctly transversely wavyrugose, intervals of fine or coarse, vertically rectangular alveolae;

tubercle low-conic, distinctly narrower than rounded summit of fruit body.

Rhynchospora globularis var. globularis

Phenology Fruiting spring–early fall.
Habitat Sands and peats of low meadows, stream banks, natural and artificial low clearings, moist clearcut areas, and savannas
Elevation 0–300 m (0–1000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; CA; FL; GA; IN; LA; MD; MO; MS; NC; NJ; OH; OK; PA; SC; TN; TX; VA; Central America; West Indies (Antilles)
Discussion

Rhynchospora globularis var. globularis is the most common of the three varieties sharing habitat, particularly disturbed ones, over much of its range with the similarly ubiquitous R. recognita. The differences between the two, once considered co-variants, are striking. Rhynschospora globularis var. globularis shows slender, mostly radiately spreadingascending, lax, comparatively shortleaved culms; its sparser, less leafybracteate clusters have smaller, rounder, darker spikelets. Associated R. recognita is obviously taller, stouter, stiffer, and longer-leaved; its dense spikelet clusters are bristly with exserted-tipped subulate bracts; its spikelets are longer in narrower outline; and it is distinctively red-brown, almost orangebrown.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 23, p. 227.
Parent taxa Cyperaceae > Rhynchospora > Rhynchospora globularis
Sibling taxa
R. globularis var. pinetorum, R. globularis var. saxicola
Synonyms R. globularis var. obliterata, R. obliterata
Name authority unknown
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