Rhynchospora tracyi
Rhynchospora decurrens
Tracy's beaksedge
swampforest beaksedge
erect, leafybased, wandlike, nearly terete, multiribbed.
lax, erect to ascending-excurved, ± terete, leafy, slender, soft.
ascending or erect, longest nearly equaling culm;
principal blades linear, involutecylindric, to 3 mm wide, apex tapering, subulate.
exceeded by inflorescence;
blades erect or ascending, linear, proximally flat, 2–4 mm wide, apex trigonous, subulate, tapering.
terminal, heads 1–4, dense, macelike, 1–1.5 mm thick;
involucral bracts leafy, proximalmost overtopping inflorescence.
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.
greenish, lanceovoid, 5–6 mm, apex acuminate;
fertile scales boat-shaped, 5 mm, apex acute to shortacuminate, midrib slightly excurrent 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, exceeding fruit body, antrorsely barbellate.
perianth bristles 6, reaching tubercle base or slightly beyond, antrorsely barbellate.
1 per spikelet, 6–8(–8.7) mm;
body pale greenbrown, laterally compressed, obcordiform, 2.5–3(–4) mm, margins thick, rounded, not crimped, apex barely exserted, setulose, surfaces nearly plane, minutely cancellate (latticed);
tubercle (style base) linear, angled, 4–6 mm, much narrower than fruit summit, setulose.
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 tracyi
Rhynchospora decurrens
Rhynchospora tracyi frequently forms clones extending for acres by means of its long slender rhizomes. Its wandlike, terete, supple culms, and round-capitate clusters of spikelets suggest a rush more than a sedge.
(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.)
LA Plants
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
