Eleocharis

• Authority

  Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

• Family

  Cyperaceae

• Scientific Name

  Eleocharis

• Description

  Genus Description - Perennials or occasionally annuals, rhizomatous, stoloniferous, or tufted; culms usually cylindrical, sometimes 3-angled, rarely quadrangular, solid or hollow, sometimes transversely septate, smooth, glabrous. Leaves reduced to bladeless sheaths; sheaths closed, tubular, the orifice truncate to obliquely truncate, apiculate at apex on the back, sometimes with a puckered, scarious appendage above the apex. Inflorescence a single, terminal spikelet at the summit of the culm; spikelets ovate to lanceolate, rarely obovate, obtuse to acute, many-flowered, with spirally imbricate scales, the lowermost l(-2) empty; scales oblong, oblong-ovate to lanceolate, or obovate, sometimes subrounded, firm or membranous, usually with scarious margins, nerved or nerveless. Flowers bisexual; bristles usually present; stamens 3, the anthers elliptic to linear; styles capillary, 2- or 3-branched, with expanded base. Achenes 3-angled or 2-sided, obovate or elliptic, smooth or reticulate, the style base expanded, triangular or conical, sometimes spongy-thickened, persistent at the apex; bristles when present (3—)6(—12), retrorsely barbed, rarely smooth.