Rhynchospora inundata
Rhynchospora glomerata
inundated beakrush, narrow-fruit beaksedge, narrowfruit horned beaksedge
cluster beaksedge
stiffly erect, leafy, triangular, multiribbed.
excurvednodding, leafy, triangular, slender;
principal leaves overtopped by culm;
blades flat, 2.5–5 mm wide, apex attenuate, trigonous.
erect, distal ones overtopping inflorescence;
principal blades flat proximally, trigonous distally, 3–10 mm wide, apex attenuate.
terminal and axillary, clusters of corymbs (1–)2–3, open, spikelet clusters loose;
bracteal leaves mostly overtopping corymbs.
terminal and axillary, spikelet clusters mostly 2–6, compact, turbinate to hemispheric, 1.5–2 cm wide;
peduncles progressively shorter distally on culm;
bracteal leaves mostly exceeding subtended groups.
pale redbrown, narrowly lanceoloid, (9–)11–14 mm, apex acuminate;
fertile scales lanceolate, 9–13 mm, apex acuminate, midrib shortexcurrent or not.
crowded, deep redbrown, lanceellipsoid, 4.5–6.5 mm;
fertile scales ovatelanceolate, 3.5–4(–4.5) mm, apex acute, midrib mostly shortexcurrent.
perianth bristles 5–6, extending at least 5 mm beyond tubercle base, antrorsely barbellate.
perianth bristles 6, overtopping tubercle, antrorsely barbellate.
1–2 per spikelet, 15–20 mm;
body stipitate, obovoid to oblong, compressed, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, margins thick;
surfaces concave, horizontally finely striate, minutely cancellate;
tubercle stoutbased, grooved, subulate, 10–15 mm, setulose.
(1–)2(–3) per spikelet, 3–4 mm;
body dark redbrown with pale center, stipitate, lenticular, obovoid, or orbicular, 1.5–2 × 1.2–1.4 mm, base narrowed, margins pale, wirelike;
surfaces slick;
tubercle triangular-subulate, 1.3–1.5(–1.8) mm.
Rhynchospora inundata
Rhynchospora glomerata
Rhynchospora inundata is largely confined to lower Coastal Plain terraces, mostly along the present coast. Typical plants have narrow fruit bodies and narrow inflorescences of sparse clusters, well overtopped by leaves and erect leafy bracts. By contrast, plants of R. careyana have broader fruits, shorter perianths, and larger, broader inflorescences that overtop most or all leaves and bracts. In general, plants of R. careyana are more robust and grow in more acid sites than those of R. inundata. Southward in the Atlantic Coastal and Gulf Coastal plains are broad areas of ecotone where the two species intergrade.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Rhynchospora glomerata is often associated with R. capitellata and is distinguishable by its taller, slightly stouter habit; longer, slightly paler spikelets; and longer and broader fruit body. It is a common lowland weed in the southern Piedmont, Atlantic coastal plain, and Gulf coastal plain, where it is often more associated with R. inexpansa.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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