ELEOCHARIS ROBBINSII Oakes
Robbins's Spike-rush
FAMILY: Cyperaceae
HABIT: Rhizomatous perennial;
fertile stems, three sided, 2-7 dm tall; flowering/fruiting mid-August to
late-September.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Eleocharis
robbinsii is the only spikerush with three-sided culms. Eleocharis
quadrangulata is the most similar species but it has four-sided culms.
TOTAL RANGE: Along
the coast from New Brunswick to Florida and inland from NY to Indiana,
Wisconsin.
STATE RANGE: One
post-1980 record from Portage County.
STATE STATUS:
2002-Endangered.
HABITAT: In shallow water of glacial lakes.
HAZARDS: Water pollution, recreation, and invasive species.
RECOVERY POTENTIAL: Poor; few glacial lakes in Ohio.
INVENTORY GUIDELINES: Collect mature fertile culms.
COMMENTS: This species grows in a variety of
wetland habitats throughout its range but may be more restricted in Ohio. Twin
Lakes in Portage County, Mud Lake in Williams County, and other quality glacial
lakes are possible locations for this species.
Robbins' spikerush
can grow in rather deep water (up to 3 ft), and often produces capillary stems
when submerged.
SELECTED
REFERENCES:
Holmgren, N. H. 1998. The illustrated companion to Gleason and
Cronquist's Manual. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY. 937 p.
Voss, E. G. 1972. The Michigan Flora Part 1. Gymnosperms and monocots. Cranbrook Institute of Science & U. of
Michigan Herbarium. 488 p.
Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Created: 12/2002 Richard Gardner