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Rhynchospora fusca — brown beaksedge

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Facts

Brown beaksedge is found in peat swamps and peaty pond shores in all New England states.

Habitat

Bogs, shores of rivers or lakes

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
wetlands
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
Stem shape in cross-section
  • the stem is roughly triangular in cross-section
  • the stem is round or oval in cross-section
Leaf blade width
1.5–2 mm
Leaf blade cross-section
  • the leaf blade is elliptic or circular in cross-section
  • the leaf blade is flat or rolled in at the edges
Inflorescence position
  • the inflorescence emerges from an axil, or most of its parts do so
  • the inflorescence is at the tip of the plant
Inflorescence branching
the inflorescence is branched
Fruit type (general)
the fruit is like a seed, and surrounded by scales
Fruit length
2.3–3 mm
Leaf position on plant
some leaf attachment points are above the midpoint of the stem
Perianth composition
there are bristles attached at the base of the achene
Fruit cross-section
the fruit is biconvex or elliptic (widest in the middle and tapering to both ends) in cross-section
Show all characteristics
  • Flowers

    Floral bristle color
    the bristles are slightly or strongly colored with reddish brown
    Floral bristle number
    5-7
    Floral bristle relative length
    the bristles are longer than the achene
    Floral bristles
    the bristles are straight or slightly curved
    Floral scale hairs
    there are no hairs on the floral scales
    Floral scale length
    4–6 mm
    Floral scale shape
    the floral scales are lanceolate (widest below the middle, and tapering at both ends)
    Flower number per cluster
    2-5
    Inflorescence bract angle
    the bracts are vertical or angled only slightly outwards
    Inflorescence bract number
    there are two to five bracts per inflorescence
    Inflorescence bract position (Sparganium)
    NA
    Inflorescence bracts
    there are at least two bracts, and they are either flat or folded or rolled in at the edges
    Inflorescence branching
    the inflorescence is branched
    Inflorescence crowding
    the inflorescence is crowded together in one tight cluster
    Inflorescence position
    • the inflorescence emerges from an axil, or most of its parts do so
    • the inflorescence is at the tip of the plant
    Inflorescence shape
    the aggregations within the inflorescence are roughly circular (not flattened) in cross-section
    Inflorescence type
    there are two or more flowers, spikes or flower clusters on a branched inflorescence
    Perianth composition
    there are bristles attached at the base of the achene
    Stamen number
    • 2
    • 3
    Stigma number
    2
    Style division
    the top two thirds of the style is divided
    floral bristle barbs
    the bristles have tiny barbs on them
    plantlets budding at flower bases
    no
  • Fruits or seeds

    Achene beak length
    0 mm
    Achene surface texture
    the achene has tiny wrinkles that run cross-wise across the achene
    Achene tubercle relative width
    the tubercle is one half to two thirds as wide as the achene
    Capsule relative length
    NA
    Fruit cross-section
    the fruit is biconvex or elliptic (widest in the middle and tapering to both ends) in cross-section
    Fruit length
    2.3–3 mm
    Fruit type (general)
    the fruit is like a seed, and surrounded by scales
    Fruit type (specific)
    the fruit is an achene (dry, seed-like fruit) with a tubercle (a swelling or projection, usually of a different color or texture) on it
    Locules in capsule
    NA
    Seed length
    0 mm
    Seed tail relative length
    0 mm
    Seed tails
    NA
    Tubercle height
    0.7–1.5 mm
  • Growth form

    Lifespan
    the plant lives more than two years
    Underground organs
    the plant has a rhizome (a horizontal underground stem with roots growing from it)
  • Leaves

    Auricle length
    0 mm
    Auricle texture
    NA
    Auricles
    there are no auricles on the leaf sheath
    Leaf blade cross-section
    • the leaf blade is elliptic or circular in cross-section
    • the leaf blade is flat or rolled in at the edges
    Leaf blade width
    1.5–2 mm
    Leaf form
    all the leaves hold their form out of water
    Leaf position on plant
    some leaf attachment points are above the midpoint of the stem
    Leaf septa
    the leaf blades do not have transverse septa
    Leaf sheath hairs
    the leaf sheathes are without hairs
    Pedicel length (Typha)
    0 mm
    Stem leaf blades
    there are fully-developed leaves with leaf blades on the main stem
    Width of seed-producing inflorescence
    5–12 mm
  • Place

    Habitat
    wetlands
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
    Specific habitat
    • bogs
    • shores of rivers or lakes
  • Stem, shoot, branch

    Plant height
    10–50 cm
    Stem shape in cross-section
    • the stem is roughly triangular in cross-section
    • the stem is round or oval in cross-section
    Stem texture near tip
    the stem feels smooth near the tip

Wetland status

Occurs only in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: OBL)

In New England

Distribution

Connecticut
present
Maine
present
Massachusetts
present
New Hampshire
present
Rhode Island
present
Vermont
present

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

Massachusetts
widespread (S-rank: S5)
New Hampshire
unrankable (S-rank: SU), Ind (code: Ind)

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

4.  Rhynchospora fusca (L.) Ait. f. N

brown beaksedge. Rhynchospora alba (L.) Vahl var. fusca (L.) Vahl; Schoenus fuscus L. 
• CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. Peatlands and peaty pond shores.

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Rhynchospora capitellata:
perianth bristles usually retrorsely barbellate and base of achene narrowed to a stipe-like process (vs. R. fusca, with perianth bristles antrorsely barbellate and base of achene cuneate, not narrowed to a stipe-like process).

Synonyms

  • Rhynchospora alba (L.) Vahl var. fusca (L.) Vahl
  • Schoenus fuscus L.

Family

Cyperaceae

Genus

Rhynchospora