Rhynchospora recognita

(Gale) Kral

Novon 9: 205. 1999.

Illustrated
Basionym: Rhynchospora globularis var. recognita Gale Rhodora 46: 245. 1944
Synonyms: Dichromena cymosa (Elliott) J. F. Macbride Phaeocephalum cymosum (Elliott) House
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 225. Mentioned on page 205, 224, 227.
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Plants perennial, cespitose, 60–100(–120) cm; rhizomes absent. Culms leafiest at base, trigonous, slender, somewhat stiff. Leaves exceeded by culms; basal blades spreading, blunt, distal ascending, linear, proximally flat, 2–5 mm wide, apex trigonous, subulate, tapering. Inflorescences: spikelet clusters 3–5 or more, compact, proximalmost widely spaced, turbinate to hemispheric or lobed; peduncles ascending, branches ascending; leafy bracts setaceous at apex, exceeding compounds, setaceous bracts often exceeding ultimate clusters, imparting bristly aspect. Spikelets redbrown, ovoid to lanceoloid, (2.7–)3–4 mm, apex acuminate; fertile scales ovate, 2.5–3 mm, apex acute, shortacuminate, or notched, midrib usually excurrent as cusp or awn. Flowers: perianth bristles 6, not reaching further than fruit midbody. Fruits 1–3 per spikelet, (1.8–)2–2.3(–2.5) mm; body brown, tumidly lenticular, obovoid to suborbicular, 1.4–1.6(–1.8) × 1.2–1.5 mm; surfaces transversely sharply rugose, intervals of rows of vertical, variously rectangular alveolae; tubercle somewhat compressed, triangular to shortconic, 0.5–0.7 mm, shortsubulate, basal rim often present.


Phenology: Fruiting spring–summer(–early fall).
Habitat: Sands, silts, clays, and peats of low meadows, ditches, low clearings, savannas
Elevation: 0–400 m

Distribution

V23 395-distribution-map.jpg

Ala., Ark., Calif., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.C., Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va., West Indies, Central America.

Discussion

Rhynchospora recognita has larger fruit and tubercles than is consistent with the varietal rank it has held under R. globularis. The two are often observed in the same locality, and in such cases, R. recognita is taller, stiffer, broader leaved, with spikelet clusters wider, denser, and bristlier, and with distinct orange tints in comparison with the darker, less dense, narrower, and less bristly spikelet clusters of plants of R. globularis.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Rhynchospora recognita"
Robert Kral +
(Gale) Kral +
Rhynchospora globularis var. recognita +
Ala. +, Ark. +, Calif. +, Del. +, D.C. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Md. +, Mich. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, N.J. +, N.C. +, Okla. +, Pa. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Va. +, W.Va. +, West Indies +  and Central America. +
0–400 m +
Sands, silts, clays, and peats of low meadows, ditches, low clearings, savannas +
Fruiting spring–summer(–early fall). +
Illustrated +
Dichromena cymosa +  and Phaeocephalum cymosum +
Rhynchospora recognita +
Rhynchospora +
species +