''Eleocharis'' is a virtually

cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan may refer to: Food and drink * Cosmopolitan (cocktail), also known as a "Cosmo" History * Rootless cosmopolitan, a Soviet derogatory epithet during Joseph Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign of 1949–1953 Hotels and resorts * Cosmopoli ...

genus of 250 or more species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the sedge family,

Cyperaceae The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family is large, with some 5,500 known species described in about 90 genera, the largest being the "true sedges" genus ''Carex'' w ...

.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis''), meaning "grace." Members of the genus are known commonly as spikerushes or spikesedges. The genus has a geographically

cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. Such a taxon, usually a species, is said to exhibit cosmopolitanism or cosmopolitism. The ext ...

, with centers of diversity in the

Amazon Rainforest The Amazon rainforest, Amazon jungle or ; es, Selva amazónica, , or usually ; french: Forêt amazonienne; nl, Amazoneregenwoud. In English, the names are sometimes capitalized further, as Amazon Rainforest, Amazon Forest, or Amazon Jungle. ...

and adjacent eastern slopes of the

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

, northern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, eastern

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number of ...

, and subtropical

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

. The vast majority of ''Eleocharis'' species grow in aquatic or mesic habitats from sea level to higher than 5,000 meters in elevation (in the tropical Andes). The genus itself is relatively easy to recognize; all ''Eleocharis'' species have photosynthetic stems but no green leaves (the leaves have been reduced to sheaths surrounding the base of the stems). Many species are robust, rhizomatously-spreading plants of lowland tropical

wetland A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...

s, while many others are small caespitose annual or perennial herbs growing near streams, and still others are intermediate. There are also a number of species that are obligate aquatic species, which usually have submerged, branching stems and often exhibit interesting photosynthetic adaptations, such as the ability to switch between C₃ and C₄ carbon fixation in response to different environmental stimuli. In all ''Eleocharis'' species, the flowers are borne on unbranched terminal spikelets at the apices of stems.Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution maps for US and Canadian species
/ref> In spite of the diversity of the genus itself, taxonomic characters useful for delimiting species within it are few, and many species are very difficult to tell apart. Many currently recognized species with very wide geographic ranges are highly polymorphic. Some of these species probably contain multiple independently evolving lineages. Because of their difficult nature, it is suggested that many botanists avoid collecting these plants and so many species are under-represented in the botanical record. One of the best known species is the Chinese water chestnut, ''

Eleocharis dulcis ''Eleocharis dulcis'', the Chinese water chestnut or water chestnut, is a grass-like sedge native to Asia, tropical Africa, and Oceania. It is grown in many countries for its edible corms. The water chestnut is not a nut, but an aquatic ve ...

''. These plants bear tubers on their rhizomes which may be peeled and eaten raw or boiled. In Australia,

magpie geese The magpie goose (''Anseranas semipalmata'') is the sole living representative species of the family Anseranatidae. This common waterbird is found in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. As the species is prone to wandering, especially wh ...

rely almost exclusively on these tubers for sustenance for a significant portion of the year.

Selected species

*'' Eleocharis acicularis'' (L.) Roem. & Schult. – needle spikerush; dwarf hairgrass *'' Eleocharis acuta'' R.Br. *''

Eleocharis acutangula ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis'' ...

'' (Roxb.) Schult. *''

Eleocharis afflata ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis'' ...

'' Steud. *'' Eleocharis atropurpurea'' (Retz.) J.Presl & C.Presl – purple spikerush *''

Eleocharis baldwinii ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis'' ...

'' (Torr.) Chapm. *''

Eleocharis bella ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis'' ...

'' (Piper) Svenson – beautiful spikerush *''

Eleocharis bifida ''Eleocharis bifida'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common name glade spikerush. It is native to the Eastern United States, where it is endemic to the Interior Low Plateau and very small part of the Ridge and Valley ecoregions. This i ...

'' S.G. Smith glade spikerush *''

Eleocharis bolanderi ''Eleocharis bolanderi'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common name Bolander's spikerush. It is native to the western United States from Colorado west to Oregon and California. It grows in wet spots in several types of habitat, includin ...

'' A.Gray – Bolander's spikerush *''

Eleocharis brassii ''Eleocharis brassii'' is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia. The stoloniferous perennial herb to grass-like sedge typically grows to a height of and has a tufted habit. It blooms between April and June producing white ...

'' S.T.Blake *'' Eleocharis brittonii'' Svenson ex Small *''

Eleocharis caespitosissima ''Eleocharis caespitosissima'' is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia. The annual herb to grass-like sedge typically grows to a height of and a width of about and has a tufted habit. It blooms between May and August. I ...

'' Baker *''

Eleocharis cellulosa ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek language, Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning ...

'' Torr. – coastal spikerush, Gulf Coast spikerush *'' Eleocharis compressa'' Sull. – flatstem spikerush *''

Eleocharis confervoides ''Eleocharis confervoides'' is a species of plant in the sedge family (Cyperaceae). It is a perennial, submerged, aquatic and deeply rooted herb. It is known by its common name Algal bulrush Eleocharis congesta ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis'' ...

'' D.Don *''

Eleocharis cylindrostachys ''Eleocharis cylindrostachys'' is a rush type plant growing in dense clumps from 40 to 60 cm tall. Found growing in moist situations in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. The specific epithet ''cylindrostachys'' is derived from Latin and ...

'' Boeckler *''

Eleocharis dietrichiana ''Eleocharis dietrichiana'' is a slender rush type plant growing in clumps from 20 to 40 cm tall. Found growing in moist situations north from Sydney in New South Wales to Queensland, Australia. The specific epithet ''dietrichiana'' is named in h ...

'' Boeckler *''

'' (Burm.f.) Trin. ex Hensch. – Chinese water chestnut *''

Eleocharis elegans ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis'' ...

'' (Kunth) Roem. & Schult. *''

Eleocharis equisetoides ''Eleocharis equisetoides'', with common names including horsetail spike-rush, jointed spike-rush, spikesedge, and knotted spike-rush, is a plant species native to the United States and Ontario, usually in freshwater wetland areas. It is known pr ...

'' (Elliott) Torr. *''

Eleocharis erythropoda ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis' ...

'' Steud. – Red-stemmed spikerush *''

Eleocharis filiculmis ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis' ...

'' Kunth *''

Eleocharis geniculata ''Eleocharis geniculata'' is a species of spikesedge known by several common names, including bent spikerush and Canada spikesedge. This is a widespread plant of wet areas in the Americas, Asia, Africa, Australia, Madagascar, and some Pacific Is ...

'' (L.) Roem. & Schult. – Canada spikesedge *''

Eleocharis gracilis ''Eleocharis gracilis'' the slender spike rush is a slender rush type plant growing from 20 to 50 cm tall, rarely up to a metre tall. Found in small clumps, growing in seasonally moist situations in many parts of south eastern Australia and ...

'' R.Br. *''

Eleocharis halophila ''Eleocharis halophila'', the saltmarsh spikerush, is a perennial halophytic plant endemic to salt marshes in eastern Canada, in Ontario in Hudson Bay and James Bay, Quebec in the St. Lawrence Seaway as far as the city of Quebec, Newfoundland an ...

'' Fernald & Brackett – saltmarsh spikerush *''

Eleocharis jacobsiana ''Eleocharis jacobsiana'' is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Western Australia. The species was first described in 2011 by Karen Wilson Karen Louise Wilson (born 1950) is an Australian botanist. Some of her research int ...

'' K.L.Wilson *''

Eleocharis keigheryi ''Eleocharis keigheryi'' is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia. The rhizomatousous perennial herb to grass-like sedge typically grows to a height of and has a clumped habit. It blooms between August and November produ ...

'' K.L.Wilson *'' Eleocharis kuroguwai'' Ohwi *'' Eleocharis macrostachya'' Britton – pale spikerush *''

Eleocharis montana ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis'' ...

'' (Kunth) Roem. & Schult. *''

Eleocharis montevidensis ''Eleocharis montevidensis'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common name sand spikerush. It is a widespread coastal plant native to the Americas. It grows in moist, sandy spots in many habitat types, including lakes, riverbanks, wet mead ...

'' Kunth – sand spikerush *'' Eleocharis mutata'' (L.) Roem. & Schult. – scallion grass *''

Eleocharis nitida ''Eleocharis nitida'' is a species of flowering plant commonly called neat spikerush, it is a member of the sedge family Cyperaceae. Description ''Eleocharis nitida'' is a perennial growing from scaly, purplish rhizomes. The culms grow 1 to 8 i ...

'' Fernald – neat spikerush *'' Eleocharis nodulosa'' Schult. *''

Eleocharis obtusa ''Eleocharis obtusa'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common name blunt spikerush. This plant is widely distributed across Canada and the United States, where it grows in wet areas such as riverbanks and moist forest floors. It is also a ...

'' (Willd.) Schult. – blunt spikerush *''

Eleocharis ochrostachys ''Eleocharis ochrostachys'', commonly known as spike rush, is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia and Asia. Description The rhizomatous perennial herb to grass-like sedge typically grows to a height of and produces gree ...

'' Steud. *''

Eleocharis pachycarpa ''Eleocharis pachycarpa'' is a species of Eleocharis, spikesedge known by the common name black sand spikerush. This plant is native to southern South America (Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) but it grows in other parts of the world as an ...

'' Desv. – black sand spikerush *''

Eleocharis pachystyla ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis'' ...

'' (C.Wright) C.B.Clarke – false junco *''

Eleocharis pallens ''Eleocharis pallens'', commonly known as pale spikerush, is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia. The perennial herb to grass-like sedge typically grows to a height of and has a tufted habit. It blooms between July and ...

'' S.T.Blake – pale spikerush *'' Eleocharis palustris'' (L.) Roem. & Schult. – common spikerush *''

Eleocharis papillosa ''Eleocharis papillosa'' is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia. The annual herb produces brown flowers in November. It has a scattered population that is found in and around open clay flats and clay pans in the Mid Wes ...

'' Latz *''

Eleocharis parishii ''Eleocharis parishii'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common name Parish's spikerush. It is native to Northern Mexico, the Southwestern United States (from southwestern Oregon and California east to Kansas and western Texas). It grows ...

'' Britton – Parish's spikerush *''

Eleocharis parvula ''Eleocharis parvula'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common names dwarf spikerush, small spikerush and hairgrass in aquaria. It is a plant of brackish and saltwater habitat, such as marshes and mudflats. It is a perennial herb growing ...

'' (Roem. & Schult.) Link ex Bluff et al. – dwarf spikerush, hairgrass *''

Eleocharis pellucida ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis' ...

'' J.Presl & C.Presl *''

Eleocharis philippinensis ''Eleocharis philippinensis'' is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Southeast Asia, Melanesia (up to New Caledonia), and parts of northern Australia and southern China. The rhizomatous In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; ...

'' Svenson *'' Eleocharis plana''

S.T.Blake Stanley Thatcher Blake (1910 – 24 February 1973) was an Australian botanist who served as president of the Royal Society of Queensland and who was associated with the Queensland Herbarium beginning in 1945 until his death. Background Prior to ...

*'' Eleocharis pusilla'' R.Br. *''

Eleocharis quadrangulata ''Eleocharis quadrangulata'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common names square-stem spikerush and four-angled spikerush. It is native to eastern and central North America (from Texas and Florida north to Ontario and Massachusetts), wit ...

'' (Michx.) Roem. – squarestem spikerush *'' Eleocharis quinqueflora'' (Hartmann) O.Schwarz – fewflower spikerush *''

Eleocharis radicans ''Eleocharis radicans'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common name rooted spikerush. This aquatic or semi-aquatic plant is native to the Americas as far north as Virginia and northern California. It grows in wet places such as streams, ...

'' (A.Dietr.) Kunth – rooted spikerush *''

Eleocharis rivalis ''Eleocharis rivalis'' is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to the Kimberley Kimberly or Kimberley may refer to: Places and historical events Australia * Kimberley (Western Australia) ** Roman Catholic Diocese of Kimberley * ...

'' K.L.Wilson *''

Eleocharis rostellata ''Eleocharis rostellata'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common name beaked spikerush. It is widespread across North America (including Mexico, Guatemala and the West Indies), with isolated populations in Argentina. ''Eleocharis rostel ...

'' (Torr.) Torr. – beaked spikerush *''

Eleocharis sanguinolenta ''Eleocharis sanguinolenta'' is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The species was first described in 2011 by Karen Wilson Karen Louise Wilson (born 1950) is an Australian botanist ...

'' K.L.Wilson *''

Eleocharis sellowiana ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis'' ...

'' Kunth *''

Eleocharis sphacelata ''Eleocharis sphacelata'', commonly known as tall spikerush, is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia and New Zealand. The erect rhizomatous perennial herb to grass-like sedge typically grows to a height of . It blooms bet ...

'' R.Br. – tall spikerush *''

Eleocharis spiralis ''Eleocharis spiralis'' is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia. The rhizomatous perennial herb to grass-like sedge typically grows to a height of . It blooms between February and April producing white flowers. It is fo ...

'' (Rottb.) Schult. *''

Eleocharis sundaica ''Eleocharis sundaica'' is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia. The rhizomatous perennial herb to grass-like sedge typically grows to a height of and is sometime found partly submerged. It blooms between May and August ...

'' J.Kern *''

Eleocharis tenuis ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis' ...

'' (Willd.) Schult. – slender spikerush *''

Eleocharis torticulmis ''Eleocharis torticulmis'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the sedge family known by the common names twisted spikerush and twist-stem spikerush. It is endemic to Plumas County, California, where it is known from two locations within a k ...

'' S.G.Sm. – twist-stem spikerush *''

Eleocharis tortilis ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (''charis'' ...

'' (Link) Schult. – twisted spikerush *'' Eleocharis triquetra'' K.L.Wilson *''

Eleocharis tuberculosa ''Eleocharis tuberculosa'', the cone-cup spikerush, is a plant species native to the United States and Canada. It has been reported from every state on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts from Maine to Texas, plus Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Nova ...

'' (Michx.) Roem. & Schult. *'' Eleocharis uniglumis'' (Link) (Link) Schult., 1824 *''

Eleocharis vivipara ''Eleocharis vivipara'' is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family known by several common names, including umbrella hairgrass, sprouting spikerush, and viviparous spikerush. It is native to the southern United States from eastern Texas ...

'' Link – umbrella hairgrass

References

External links

USDA Plants Profile: North American SpecieseFloras ProfileBaksh & Richards (2006) An architectural model for ''Eleocharis'': morphology and development of ''Eleocharis cellulosa'' (Cyperaceae). ''Am J Botany'' 93:707-15.

*Rataj, Karel. 1977. Aquarium plants; hair grass. TFH 12/77. {{Taxonbar, from=Q161871 Cyperaceae genera Aquatic plants Freshwater plants