Rhynchospora pallida M.A. Curtis. Pale Beaksedge. Phen: Jul-Sep. Hab: Pine savanna-pocosin and sandhill-pocosin ecotones, peaty seepage bogs, usually growing in or near Sphagnum. Dist: Long Island, NY south through NJ to nc. SC, primarily in NJ and NC. See Nelson (1993) for first SC record.

ID notes:Like R. alba and R. macra, Rhynchospora pallida has scales which are at first bright white, "fading" in age to a medium tan or light brown. These three species are thus superficially most distinctive (from other Rhynchospora) in June, July, and August. Unlike R. alba and R. macra, R. pallida lacks achene bristles and has a thickened, somewhat bulb-like plant base.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy: = C, F, FNA23, G, GW1, K1, K3, K4, NY, RAB, Tat, Va, Gale (1944), McMillan (2007); = Rynchospora pallida – S, S13, orthographic variant

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
• Northcentral & Northeast: OBL

Heliophily: 8