Rhynchospora nitens (Vahl) A. Gray

Short Beak Baldrush; Short Beak Beaksedge

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Short Beak Baldrush is a native herbaceous annual in the Sedge family (Cyperaceae). It is native to the southern third of Alabama. Short Beak Baldrush occurs along blackwater streams, along spring runs, in bogs, in wet roadside ditches, around sink and depression ponds, and in disturbed wetlands. It is an annual with a fibrous root system. Stems (culms) are from 6 inches to 2 feet in height. Leaves are mostly basal, linear, flattened, and glabrous. Flowers are produced in axillary and terminal corymbs of spikelets. The spikelets are dark brown in color and ovoid to ovoid-lanceolate. The fruit are achenes. The achenes are dark brown in color, lustrous, lenticular, with transversely wrinkled faces. The achenes have a triangular cap-like tubercle that is broader than high. This species was placed in the genus Psilocarya until recently. That genus was separated from Rhynchospora by having 1 empty basal scale per spikelet instead of 2-many, having deeply divided styles, and having a diffuse arrangement of peduncled spikes. Short Beak Baldrush can be very abundant one year and then absent from the same site for several years in a row. It seems to respond positively to disturbance such as logging, road work, or low water levels caused by drought.--A. Diamond

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Native OBL (NWPL)

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