Flora of the Southeastern United States

Eleocharis cellulosa Torrey. Common name: Gulf Coast Spikerush. Phenology: Jun-early Nov. Habitat: Fresh to brackish interdune swale ponds on barrier islands, marl prairies, depression ponds, salt marshes, other disturbed wet sandy habitats. Distribution: E. NC south to s. FL, west to TX and Mexico; West Indies; Bermuda; Central America (Nicaragua). See Gaddy & Rayner (1980) for the report of this species in SC and Carter, Baker, & Morris (2009) for discussion of its occurrence in GA.

ID notes: The culms of this species are internally spongy and have incomplete septae internally (vs. hollow and complete, externally evident septae of E. interstincta and E. equisetoides). A rare, apparently infertile hybrid between E. cellulosa and E. quadrangulata (E. ×inaequilatera D.J. Rosen & C. Reid), with unequally quadrangular culms, has been reported from LA and TX (Rosen and Reid 2015).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Bah, ETx1, FNA23, GW1, K4, Mex, NcTx, NS, POWO, RAB, S, Tx, WH3, Angelo, Rosen, & Lange (2020), Rosen, Hatch, & Carter (2007). Basionym: Eleocharis cellulosa Torr. 1836

Links to other floras: = Eleocharis cellulosa - FNA23

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)

Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
• Great Plains: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 9