Flora of the Southeastern United States

Eleocharis olivacea Torrey var. olivacea. Common name: Olive Spikerush. Phenology: Jun-Sep. Habitat: Coastal Plain ponds, pools, other wet, sandy or peaty habitats. Distribution: Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, south to Florida and Texas.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Some authors (Menapace 1993) prefer a broader concept of Eleocharis ser. Maculosae Svenson, only recognizing two varieties of E. flavescens, citing difficulty in delimiting varieties within this larger species complex, and placing E. olivacea Torr. as a variety of E. flavescens (Gleason 1991; Menapace 1993). Numerous synonyms have been published in an attempt to categorize the broad variation in this complex. Broadly defined, E. flavescens (syn. E. flaccida sensu Svenson 1929) has purplish-brown to black achenes, while E. olivacea (E. olivacea sensu Svenson 1929) has more olivaceous-colored achenes.

Synonymy ⓘ: = K1, NS; > Eleocharis flaccida (Rchb.) Urb. — S; < Eleocharis flavescens (Poir.) Urb. — RAB, Tx; < Eleocharis flavescens (Poir.) Urb. var. olivacea (Torr.) Gleason — Ar, C, Can, ETx1, FNA23, G, K4, Mi, NE, NY, POWO; < Eleocharis olivacea Torrey — F, GW1, Il, Pa, Tat, WH3; > Eleocharis olivacea Torrey — S. Basionym: Eleocharis olivacea Torrey 1836

Links to other floras: < Eleocharis flavescens var. olivacea - FNA23

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: OBL (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 8