Rhynchospora inundata
Rhynchospora miliacea
inundated beakrush, narrow-fruit beaksedge, narrowfruit horned beaksedge
millet beaksedge
stiffly erect, leafy, triangular, multiribbed.
lax, leafy, wandlike, ± terete to obscurely angled, slender.
erect, distal ones overtopping inflorescence;
principal blades flat proximally, trigonous distally, 3–10 mm wide, apex attenuate.
ascending, exceeded by culms;
blades flat, 4–7(–10) mm wide, apex trigonous, shortacuminate, tapering.
terminal and axillary, clusters of corymbs (1–)2–3, open, spikelet clusters loose;
bracteal leaves mostly overtopping corymbs.
spikelet clusters 4–6 or more, equidistant along culm on ascending peduncles, branches capillary, divaricate, clusters loose, diffuse, rounded.
pale redbrown, narrowly lanceoloid, (9–)11–14 mm, apex acuminate;
fertile scales lanceolate, 9–13 mm, apex acuminate, midrib shortexcurrent or not.
light brown, ellipsoid to lanceoloid or ovoid, 2.5–3.5 mm, apex acute;
fertile scales ovate, (1.5–)2–3 mm, apex rounded or acute, midrib forming apiculus.
perianth bristles 5–6, extending at least 5 mm beyond tubercle base, antrorsely barbellate.
perianth bristles 6, longest exceeding 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.
2–several per spikelet, 1.3–1.5 mm;
body pale brown, broadly obovoid, tumidly biconvex, 1.1–1.2 × 1–1.1 mm;
surfaces transversely sharply wavyrugulose, intervals with vertical, rectangular, shallow alveolae;
tubercle depressedconic, slightly compressed, 0.2–0.3(–0.4) mm, edges setulose.
Rhynchospora inundata
Rhynchospora miliacea
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.)
The ultimate branches in Rhynchospora miliacea typically terminate in only one or two spikelets, the scales of which fall quickly, and the exposed fruits look like short miniature strings of beads.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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