Flora of the Southeastern United States

Scleria triglomerata Michaux. Common name: Tall Nutrush. Phenology: May-Sep. Habitat: Wet to mesic pine flatwoods, pine savannas, and hardwood forests. Distribution: VT and ON west to MN, south to s. FL, TX, and ne. Mexico (NLE); S. triglomerata sensu lato also occurs in Puerto Rico and Mexico, and may include S. nitida and S. flaccida.

ID notes: Scleria triglomerata is a robust nutrush, the tufted stems usually 6-9 dm tall, growing from a tough, thick, horizontal rhizome. It is very similar to S. nitida of dry-mesic uplands, but S. triglomerata has broader stems and leaves; and the leaf sheaths are smooth versus pubescent in S. nitida. It is similar to S. flaccida of maritime woodlands, but never forming colonies or patches of plants like S. flaccida does; and the base of the seed has tiny rounded bumps (vs. covered with what looks like tiny shards of glass in S. flaccida).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Scleria triglomerata is here recognized with a narrower circumscription than in many other floras, and Scleria flaccida and Scleria nitida are recognized as separate species.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Can, F, G, Il, NS, Tat, Tn, Va; < Scleria triglomerata Michx. — Ar, C, ETx1, FNA23, GrPl, GW1, K4, Mex, Mi, Mo1, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tx, W, WH3, WV, Fairey (1967); Scleria triglomerata Michx. Basionym: Scleria triglomerata Michx. 1803

Links to other floras: < Scleria triglomerata - FNA23

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Wetland Indicator Status:

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

Heliophily ⓘ: 7