Flora of the Southeastern United States

Rhynchospora tracyi Britton. Common name: Tracy's Beaksedge. Phenology: Jun-Sep. Habitat: Pondcypress savannas and graminoid-dominated depressions, in small, clay-based Carolina bays, Coastal Plain natural lakes, or shallow limesink ponds (dolines), typically in shallow water or at the lower margins of pond-shores; in s. FL often a monospecific dominant in marl prairies and marshes. Distribution: S. NC south to s. FL, west to s. MS (Sorrie & Leonard 1999); disjunct in sw. LA and e. TX; Bahamas; West Indies (Cuba, Hispaniola); Central America (Belize).

ID notes: Rhynchospora tracyi is a very distinctive beaksedge, tall (6-15 dm high), slender, forming colonies via runners in seasonally flooded habitats. It is unique in its 1-2 (rarely as many as 4) spherical heads at the stem tips, and achenes with an abrupt slender beak 4-5 mm long.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Bah, ETx1, FNA23, GW1, K4, NS, POWO, RAB, WH3, WI, McMillan (2007); Ceratoschoenus capitatus Chapm.; = Rynchospora tracyi — S, S13. Basionym: Rhynchospora tracyi Britton 1892 "Urbasionym:" Ceratoschoenus capitatus Chapm. 1860

Links to other floras: = Rhynchospora tracyi - FNA23

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)

Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 9