Rhynchospora rariflora (Michaux) Elliott. Few-flower Beaksedge. Phen: Jul-Sep. Hab: Wet pine savannas, seepage bogs in the fall-line Sandhills, bogs in the Piedmont and Mountains. Dist: S. NJ south to s. FL and west to e. TX; rarely inland, as in ec. TN, w. NC, nw. SC, n. GA, etc.; West Indies; Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua.

ID notes: This species is clump-forming or tussock-forming, with threadlike leaves and lazy stems. The inflorescences are open, and each branch supports 1-3 flowers/fruits. It is reminiscent of R. oligantha and R. galeana, but the achene bristles are not feathery and the spikelets are smaller. It is much like R. stenophylla, but R. rariflora bristles are no longer than the seed body, versus longer than the seed beak in R. stenophylla.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, ETx1, F, FNA23, G, GW1, K1, K3, K4, RAB, Tx, Va, WH3, Gale (1944), McMillan (2007); = n/a – Tat; = Rynchospora rariflora – S, S13

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
• Great Plains: OBL
• Midwest: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 9