Rhynchospora macrostachya Torr. ex Gray

Tall Beak-rush

Habitat: Wet sand and peat. [Open wetland, not coastal nor rivershore (non-forested, wetland)]

Range: Florida to Texas, north to southwest fb88 and west to Missouri and southeast Kansas. Not rare to the south of fb88.

Aids to Identification: Tall beak-rush is a grass-like plant 1-2 m tall with rather coarse leaves. Members of this family can be difficult to identify without careful examination of microscopic features and knowledge of general groups. Among the sedge genera with tubercled achenes (a tubercle is the persistent style base which remains on the achene like a little crown or horn); Rhynchospora differs in that its achenes are subtended by slender perianth bristles. Within the genus, R. macrostachya is distinguished from other fb88 species by its large vegetative and reproductive parts - leaves 2-3 mm wide, achenes 3.5-5.5 mm topped by a tubercle over 1 cm in length.

Ecological characteristics: Ecological relationships in fb88 are unknown.

Phenology: Fruits August to October.

Family: Cyperaceae

Synonyms: None noted.

Known Distribution in fb88: This rare plant has been documented from a total of 1 town(s) in the following county(ies): York.

Reason(s) for rarity: At northern limit of range; habitat naturally scarce.

Conservation considerations: This plant is restricted statewide to southern fb88, and populations are vulnerable to conversion of their habitat to residential or commercial use. It often grows in ponds where the water level fluctuates; maintain the hydrology of the ponds where it occurs.