Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plant
Particulars and
Photographs
University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Eleocharis species
spikerushes
Native to Florida
There are about 150 species of
spikerushes worldwide, many aquatic, with about 2 dozen species native to Florida
(Wunderlin, 1998).
They may be encountered as floating tangled mats or dense clumps in the mud or as rooted green
spikes emersed from a few feet of water, covering many acres. Some are cultivated as
human food; some species are major food plants of birds and other animals.
Spikerushes are
sedges. Stems unbranched, many gas canals in cross section; leaf
blades none, just sheaths at the base of the stem; inflorescence a
single spikelet, on stem tips, no bracts; spikelets of various sizes, overlapping
scales, few-to-many flowers.
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