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AquaPlantA Diagnostics Tool for Pond Plants and Algae
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Spikerush

Eleocharis spp.

Spikerush Locations in North America
Spikerush Locations in Southeast US
spike rush close up

spike rush drawing
spike rush in water
spike rush diagram

clump of spike rush
spike rush under water

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.

What is Spikerush?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Bladeless sheaths

Scales:

  • Arranged in spirals
  • Closely crowded
  • Various textures
  • Always spherical

Flowers:

  • One flower/cluster of flowers

Fruit:

  • One seed
  • Does not open to release seed when ripe
  • Flat or slightly bulging
  • Various shapes, colors, and textures

Pros and Cons of Spikerush

Docks, geese, muskrats, and nutria all eat portions of spike rushes, from seeds, to rhizomes and tubers. Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.

What Type of Spikerush Do I Have?

There are many species of spikerush and they are difficult to identify without using detailed botanical keys. In Texas, there are four common species of spikerush. Click on the buttons to learn more about each individual species.

Eleocharis baldwinii
Eleocharis cellulosa
Eleocharis geniculata
Eleocharis interstincta
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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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