keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

628 CYPERACEAE/RHYNCHOSPORA
obovoid, lenticular; tubercle 0.1–0.15 mm long. Moist sand; Harris, Tyler (BRIT), Liberty,
Angelina (Bridges & Orzell 1989a), Jasper, and Montgomery (Turner et al. 2003) cos.; also Gulf
Prairies and Marshes; se U.S. from NC s to FL w to TX. May–Nov.
Rhynchospora elliottii A. Dietr., (for its discoverer, Stephen Elliott, 1771–1830, botanist and
prominent citizen of South Carolina), ELLIOTT’S BEAK SEDGE. Tufted perennial 80–150 cm tall;
inflorescences with terminal and lateral turbinate clusters, these often congested; spikelets
(1.5–)2–3(–3.5) mm long; achenes 1–1.2 mm long, orbicular to broadly obovoid, strongly flattened;
tubercle triangular or concavely triangular, 0.3–0.5(–0.7) mm long. Sands and peats of
wet areas; Hardin, Liberty, Newton, Tyler (BRIT), and Jasper (Turner et al. 2003) cos.; also n Gulf
Prairies and Marshes; se U.S. from NC s to FL w to TX. May–Sep. [R. schoenoides (Elliott) A.W.
Wood] Similar to R. microcarpa but with taller coarser habit, long spreading perianth bristles
(Kral 2002c), and achene differences (see key to species).
Rhynchospora fascicularis (Michx.) Vahl, (fascicled, clustered), FASCICLED BEAK SEDGE, STOUT
BEAK-RUSH. Tufted perennial to 1.3(–1.5) m tall, similar to R. debilis but taller, more erect, and
coarser; inflorescences with spikelets in dense, terminal and usually lateral, broadly turbinate
to hemispheric clusters; spikelets (3–)3.5–5 mm long; perianth bristles shorter than to longer
than achene; achenes 1.3–1.9 mm long, broadly ellipsoid to � orbicular, lenticular; tubercle 0.4–
0.7(–0.9) mm long. Ditches, savannahs, and other wet areas; Newton (BRIT), Angelina, Hardin,
Jefferson, Trinity, and Tyler (Turner et al. 2003) cos.; also Gulf Prairies and Marshes; se U.S. from
VA s to FL w to TX. Aug–Nov. [R. distans (Michx.) Vahl, R. fascicularis var. distans (Michx.)
Chapm., Schoenus fascicularis Michx.]
Rhynchospora filifolia A. Gray, (with thread-like leaves), THREAD-LEAF BEAK SEDGE, BRISTLE-LEAF
BEAK-RUSH. Densely tufted perennial usually 33–65 cm tall; culms and leaves filiform; inflorescences
with spikelets in narrowly turbinate to hemispheric, terminal and also 1–2 lateral clusters;
spikelets 2.5–4 mm long; achenes 0.9–1.2 mm long, obovate, biconvex; tubercle 0.4–0.6 mm
long, the margins with minute bristles. Sands and peats of wet areas; Hardin, Montgomery,
Newton, Tyler (BRIT), Waller (Gale 1944), and Burleson (Turner et al. 2003) cos. in the se part of
East TX; mainly se U.S. from NJ s to FL w to TX. May–Oct. [R. fuscoides C.B. Clarke]
Rhynchospora globularis (Chapm.) Small (globular, of a little ball or sphere), GLOBE BEAK-RUSH,
GLOBE BEAK SEDGE. Tufted perennial 15–80 cm tall; inflorescences rather sparse, without a bristly
appearance; spikelets 1–3-fruited, (2–)2.5–3(–4) mm long; bristles to 2/3 as long as achene;
achenes 1.2–1.6 mm long, obovate, tumidly biconvex; tubercle 0.3–0.4 mm long. Varieties are
not distinguished on the county distribution map. Kral (2002c) separated the 2 varieties occurring
in TX as follows:
1. Spikelets broadly ovoid to subglobose; fruit [achene] body distinctly transversely wavy-rugose,
intervals composed of irregular rows of vertical, rectangular alveolae _____________________ var. globularis
1. Spikelets ovoid; fruit body scarcely transversely wavy-rugose, instead with transverse, undulate
rows of subisodiametric to very broadly rectangular cancellae or alveolae _________________ var. pinetorum
var. globularis. Perennial 15–50 cm tall. Damp, sandy or peaty soils, disturbed sites; widespread
in East TX and by far the most common variety in TX; Turner et al. (2003) mapped locations
(without indicating variety) w to Fannin and Travis cos. and disjunct w to Winkler Co. (in the
Trans-Pecos); also Gulf Prairies and Marshes; widespread in e U.S. from NJ s to FL w to IN and
TX, also CA. May–Jun(–Sep). This taxon is often found with R. recognita (Kral 2002c) but can be
distinguished by numerous characters (see key to species).
var. pinetorum (Britton & Small ex Small) Gale, (growing under pines). Plant 0.8 m or less tall.
Moist sandy areas; Hardin Co. (BRIT—annotated by Kral), also Kral (1999) mapped two other
TX locations, one in Dallas Co. in the ne part of East TX and one in Harris Co. at the se margin
of East TX; se U.S. from NC s to FL w to TX. May. [R. pinetorum Britton & Small ex Small] While