Copy permalink to share
Cyperaceae
Rhynchospora

not marked as a favorite taxon Rhynchospora colorata (Linnaeus) H. Pfeiffer. Common name: Narrowleaf Whitetop Sedge. Phenology: May-Sep. Habitat: Wet pine savannas, ditches, dune swales, calcareous glades, usually in places with some source of alkalinity (calcareous rocks, shell, brackish water). Distribution: Se. VA south to FL and west to c. TX; Mexico (Tabasco, Chiapas, Yucatán), Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Venezuela; West Indies.

Glossary (beta!)

ID notes: The bright white inflorescence bracts of the "Whitetop Sedges" (in our region: R. colorata, R. floridensis, R. latifolia, R. nivea) form a very visually distinctive group within Rhynchospora. See Rhynchospora Key B.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, ETx1, FNA23, K4, NcTx, NS, POWO, Va, WH3, McMillan (2007); = Dichromena colorata (L.) Hitchc. — Bah, F, G, GW1, RAB, S, S13, Tx; Schoenus coloratus Linnaeus. Basionym: Schoenus coloratus L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Rhynchospora colorata - FNA23

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)

Wetland Indicator Status:

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

Heliophily ⓘ: 9

Your browser does not support SVGs

Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.

image #1 of Rhynchospora colorata© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Rhynchospora colorata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Rhynchospora colorata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Rhynchospora colorata© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Rhynchospora colorata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Rhynchospora colorata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Rhynchospora colorata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Rhynchospora colorata© Scott Ward; RHYCOL (left), (RHYLAT (right) | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Rhynchospora colorata© Patrick McMillan | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Rhynchospora colorata© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Rhynchospora colorata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷

Feedback

See something missing or incorrect about Rhynchospora colorata? Let us know here:
  1. Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
  2. If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
  3. Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
  4. Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
  5. Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.

Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro:

Stems:

Leaves:

Inforescence:

Flowers:

Fruits:

Comments:

Height: 12-18 in.

plant sale text: Whitetop sedge produces unusual, showy pure white bracts, typically 4 to 6 inches across, that are attractive for several months in mid to late summer. A single plant spreads slowly to form an impressive specimen. This perennial is native to coastal areas of the southeastern US. This sedge works well planted with carnivorous plants, because they both thrive with wet soil and full sun.

bloom table text:

description:

stems:

leaves:

inflorescence:

flowers:

fruits:

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: southeastern United States to Mexico & West Indies



0 unsaved edits on this page.