Rhynchospora indianolensis
Rhynchospora decurrens
indianola beaksedge
swampforest beaksedge
stiffly erect or ascending, leafy-based, triangular, multiribbed.
lax, erect to ascending-excurved, ± terete, leafy, slender, soft.
ascending or erect, crowded toward culm base, shorter, more widely spaced distally, longest overtopping or equaling subtended inflorescences;
principal blades flat, trigonous distally, 4–6 mm wide, apex attenuate, trigonous.
exceeded by inflorescence;
blades erect or ascending, linear, proximally flat, 2–4 mm wide, apex trigonous, subulate, tapering.
terminal and axillary, compounds of fascicles, nearly umbellate;
clusters hemispheric to nearly capitate, 1.5–2 cm wide; 1 cluster nearly sessile, others on slender rays to 7 cm, sometimes penultimate node with single cluster on peduncle 7–12 cm.
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.
light redbrown, lanceoloid, 6–7 mm, apex acute;
fertile scales lance-ovate, 5 mm, apex acute to blunt, midrib shortexcurrent or not.
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, overtopping tubercle base, antrorsely barbellate.
perianth bristles 6, reaching tubercle base or slightly beyond, antrorsely barbellate.
1 per spikelet, (5.5–)6–7 mm;
body obovoid, 3–4 × 2–2.5 mm, margins thick, crimped, surfaces level or concave, minutely pebbled;
tubercle narrowly conic, 2grooved, 3–4 mm, base blunt, stout, capping fruit apex, tip barely exserted.
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 indianolensis
Rhynchospora decurrens
Rhynchospora indianolensis was considered by G. Kükenthal to be closely related to, if not the same as, the Cuban R. scutellata Grisebach but with fruit of different dimensions and sculpture. W. W. Thomas (1984) believed the two to be conspecific.
(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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