PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
Search PLANTS
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Few-flowered Spike-rush (Eleocharis quinqueflora)

eje_036.jpg

 

 

 

 

8945.jpg

Photo by Emmet Judziewicz

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Few-flowered Spike-rush (Eleocharis quinqueflora), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found on cold coniferous poor fen mats, but also in a variety of moist meadows in calcareous areas. Blooming occurs late-June through late-July, fruiting early-July through late-September. The optimal identification period for this species is early-July through September.

Eleocharis bernardina, Eleocharis pauciflora, Eleocharis pauciflora var. bernardina, Eleocharis pauciflora var. fernaldii, Eleocharis quinqueflora ssp. fernaldii, Eleocharis quinqueflora var. suksdorfiana

 
 
 
Identification

Few-flowered spike-rush is a graminoid, 1-4dm tall, with spikelets that are 3-8mm x 1.5-4mm, with 3-10 floral scales per spikelet. Its 3-6 perianth bristles are often unequal, rudimentary to equaling tubercle, stout to slender, and spinules are dense to apparently absent. Its achenes are stramineous to medium brown or gray-brown, equilaterally trigonous to compressed-trigonous, rarely some biconvex, obpyriform, with a variable beak. Tubercles are rarely absent. Distal leaf sheaths are stramineous to brown or reddish proximally, green to stramineous or brown distally, mebranous to papery, apex often reddish, and are subtuncate to acute. Its scales are persistent or fugaceous, thinly membranous, and not fibrous. Resting buds are often present on rhizomes or among culm bases and are broadly to narrowly ovoid. Proximal scale has a flower and is seldom empty.

It superficially resembles the common E acicularis, but it has shorter stems (1-4dm vs greater than 4dm) and fewer than 10 flowers per spikelet.

Phenology and Reproduction

Rhizomatous/stoloniferous. Blooming occurs late-June through late-July, fruiting early-July through late-September.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is early-July through September.

Ecology and Associated Species

Associated species include Larix laricina, Triglochin palustre, Carex lasiocarpa, C buxbaumii, Rhynchospora fusca, and Thuja occidentalis.

Habitat

Few-flowered spike-rush is found on cold coniferous poor fen mats, but also in a variety of moist meadows in calcareous areas.

Avoidance Measures and Management Guidance

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Avoid disturbance to shorelines and the forest-beach interface.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Avoid rapid and dramatic reductions in canopy cover and, basal area, in wet areas to reduce risk of swamping.

Survey for and control invasive plants prior to conducting timber operations, as these can be spread by vehicles and often respond vigorously to increased light. See forestry BMPs for invasive species.

This species is likely sensitive to water quality. Following BMPs around streams and buffering associated drainages will reduce eutrophication and prevent water quality degradation.

Wildlife Action Plan

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.

For more information, contact

Kevin Doyle
Conservation Biologist
tel:+1-608-416-3377