Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Eleocharis acicularis
Needle spikesedge
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Monocot, perennial

Roots: adventitious, stolons

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire leaf margin; Parallel leaf venation; awl-shaped leaf shape

Inflorescence: head

Flowers: perfect; 3 merous; complete, incomplete, not petals, not sepals; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: achene

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual, vegetative

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed in shallow waters, sloughs, often occurring as dense mats in dried-up temporary ponds, mudflats, springy calcareous areas.

ILPIN Notes: Species is found throughout Illinois, often in great abundance. Achenes distinguish Eleocharis acicularis from E. intermedia. Culm width and culm length distinguish E. acicularis from E. wolfii. Bristles may be present or absent.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae: no
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value: deer: poor; upland game birds: poor; waterfowl: good; small non-game bird: poor; small mammals: poor
  • Cover Value: upland game birds: fair; waterfowl: good; small non-game bird: good; small mammals: fair

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 3
  • Chicago Area: 2

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