Rhynchospora inexpansa (Michaux) Vahl. Common name: Nodding Beaksedge. Phenology: Jul-Sep. Habitat: Wet pine savanna, streamhead pocosin where frequently burned, usually in peaty situations, often weedy, colonizing disturbances. Distribution: Se. VA south to ne. FL, FL Panhandle, and west to e. TX, AR, and se. OK (Singhurst, Mink, & Holmes 2012); reported for West Indies.
ID notes: Rhynchospora inexpansa is often noticed because it may form large and dense colonies. Individual stems are normally 5-11 dm tall, but the upper halves of the stems almost always arch over, causing some or most spikelet clusters to droop. The seeds are unique in having a narrowly elliptical body and a long tapering beak. It is likely to be found in disturbed places as opposed to pristine natural areas.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, ETx1, F, FNA23, G, GW1, K4, NS, POWO, RAB, Tat, Tx, Va, WH3, Bridges & Orzell (2023) in Weakley et al (2023), Gale (1944), McMillan (2007); = Rynchospora inexpansa — S, S13; Schoenus inexpansus Michaux. Basionym: Schoenus inexpansus Michx. 1803
Links to other floras: = Rhynchospora inexpansa - FNA23
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
- Great Plains: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Janet Wright, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Janet Wright source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷
© Godfrey and Wooten 1979 | Original Image ⭷
© Patrick McMillan | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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Height: 1-3 ft.
plant sale text: Nodding beaksedge has narrow grass-like leaves and lovely, arching flower stalks. It can provide interesting texture and structure in boggy or sunny wet areas of the garden. It is native to wet savannas, pond margins, ditches, and other moist areas of the Coastal Plain of the southeastern US.
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germination code: 2
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