Rhynchospora capitellata (Michaux) Vahl. Common name: Brownish Beaksedge. Phenology: Jul-Sep. Habitat: Bogs and fens, seepages, and wet rock outcrops in the Mountains and upper Piedmont, also in wet habitats in the Coastal Plain of ne. NC and e. VA, also found in a variety of wet habitats. The only common beaksedge in the higher Mountains of our region. Distribution: New Brunswick west to Wisconsin and n. Nebraska, south to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi; disjunct in sw. Oregon and California.
ID notes: In geographic regions of overlap between R. capitellata and its sister species R. leptocarpa, identification must be done with care. R. leptocarpa differs from R. capitellata in its rather glaucescent stems and leaves (vs. plain green in R. capitellata), lazy stems often parallel to the ground (vs. erect), and restriction to blackwater streamheads and ecotones. R. capitellata has also been confused with R. glomerata, which has larger spikelets and much larger seeds.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Sorrie (2000) clarified the relationships and distinctions of this taxon with R. leptocarpa.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, F, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, Mo1, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Ciafré & Naczi (2022), McMillan (2007), Naczi & Moyer (2017); = Rhynchospora glomerata (L.) Vahl var. minor Britton; = Rynchospora capitellata — S; < Rhynchospora capitellata (Michx.) Vahl — C, FNA23, G, GW1, K1, NSProv, RAB, Tx, Gale (1944); < Rhynchospora glomerata (L.) Vahl, often misapplied; < Rynchospora glomerata var. leptocarpa Chapm. ex Britton — S13. Basionym: Schoenus capitellatus Michx. 1803
Links to other floras: < Rhynchospora capitellata - 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 lump from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷
© Claire Ciafré | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷
© Patrick McMillan | Original Image ⭷
© Godfrey and Wooten 1979 | Original Image ⭷
© Patrick McMillan | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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