Rhynchospora harperi Small. Harper's Beaksedge. Phen: Jul-Sep. Hab: Peaty limesink depression ponds (dolines), from standing water to the upper margins of the pond-shore. Dist: Se. NC south to sc. peninsular FL and west to s. AL and s. MS (Sorrie & Leonard 1999); Belize. See Nelson (1993) for first SC record, and LeBlond (1997) for additional information on the species, especially its distribution.

ID notes:In the field Rhynchospora harperi resembles R. cephalantha var. attenuata, but that species occurs primarily in seepages (vs. in seasonally ponded habitats). Rhynchospora harperi has a unique feature: the terminal spikelet cluster is separated from the next lower one by a curved (not straight) stalk.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy: = FNA23, K1, K3, K4, WH3, Gale (1944), McMillan (2007); = n/a – RAB; = Rynchospora harperi – S; < Rhynchospora filifolia A.Gray – GW1, S13

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily: 8