DACF Home → Bureaus & Programs → Maine Natural Areas Program → Communities, Plants, and Animals → Rare Plants → Eleocharis quinqueflora
Eleocharis quinqueflora (F.X. Hartmann) Schwarz ssp. fernaldii (Svens.) Hultén
Few-flowered Spikerush
- State Rank: S2
- Global Rank: G5TNRQ
- State Status: Special Concern
Habitat: Damp calcareous shores, ledges and swamps. [Non-tidal rivershore (non-forested, seasonally wet)]
Range: Circumboreal, south to New England and west to Iowa.
Aids to Identification: This spikerush is a perennial species with stems clustered on a short rhizome. Stems are normally 10-30 cm high, and not flattened. The solitary, terminal spikelet is ovoid, 4-8 mm long, with 3-9 flowers. The 2 lowest scales are the largest, up to 5.5 mm long. The achene is gray-brown with a thickened, confluent projection (tubercle).
Ecological characteristics: In Maine, this species is known to occur on rocky river shores and riverside seeps.
Phenology: Fruits July - September.
Family: Cyperaceae
Synonyms: Eleocharis pauciflora (Lightf.) Link; Eleocharis pauciflora (Lightf.) Link var. fernaldii Svens.; Scirpus quinquefolius F.X. Hartmann.
Known Distribution in Maine: This rare plant has been documented from a total of 16 town(s) in the following county(ies): Aroostook, Oxford, Piscataquis.
Reason(s) for rarity: Suitable habitat naturally scarce.
Conservation considerations: Maintain hydrologic integrity of its rivershore habitat, including the natural disturbance.