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Slender Spike-Rush

Slender Spike-Rush

Eleocharis uniglumis

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How common: Common

Slender Spike-rush is a small, stiff, rush-like plant of wet places, often by the sea. It grows as leafless, pale green stems topped with a single small, dark-tipped flower head. It is widespread across the northern half of the world in wetlands and shores.

Did you know?

  • It has no true leaves – the green stems do the photosynthesis.
  • Its flowers are wind‑pollinated.

About the species

Identification

Plants 5–50 cm tall with smooth, round, leafless green stems. At the base are two tight, shiny reddish to red-brown papery tubes; the upper one ends without a leaf. Each stem ends in one small, narrow oval head (about 5–12 mm) with dark reddish-brown scales. The very lowest scale is much shorter and carries no flower. After flowering, the head holds many tiny pale seeds. Among spike-rushes, the shiny red-brown base and single small dark head help identify it. Flowers in Finland from June to August.

Plant group

Grasses, sedges and rushes

Habitat

shore

Flowering

Jun–Aug

About the habitat

Grows on wet ground, especially sea shore meadows; also other wetlands such as muddy margins and marshy flats. Common along the Baltic Sea coast throughout Finland.

Sources

Photo: Jindřich Soukup, CC0 1.0 https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/6520501302

Text: Pinkka: Kasvitieteen retkeily Ahvenanmaalle - Nåtön biologinen asema, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40275

Text: Pinkka: A Pohjolan kasveja - Dactylis-Epilobium, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40275

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriluikka

See also