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 ...
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
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 ...
n
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
This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
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
''Eleocharis acicularis'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common names needle spikerush and least spikerush. It is widespread across Europe, central and southeastern Asia, North America and northeastern South America as far south as Ecu ...
Eleocharis acuta
''Eleocharis acuta'', commonly known as common spikerush or small spikerush, is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia.
Description
The rhizomatous perennial herb to grass-like sedge typically grows to a height of . It blo ...
'' 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
''Eleocharis atropurpurea'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common name purple spikerush. This is an aquatic plant native to much of (Africa, eastern and southern Asia, Australia, Latin America). It also has a wide distribution in tempe ...
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'' ...
Eleocharis brittonii
''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'' ...
Eleocharis compressa
''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'' ...
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 ...
'' (Burm.f.) Trin. ex Hensch. – Chinese water chestnut
*'' Eleocharis elegans'' (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 ...
Eleocharis filiculmis
''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 ...
'' 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 ...
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 ...
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
''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'' ...
'' Ohwi
*''
Eleocharis macrostachya
''Eleocharis macrostachya'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common name pale spikerush.
It is widely distributed in North America and occurs in parts of South America. It is a plant of varied moist habitats, including freshwater lakes a ...
Eleocharis mutata
''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'' ...
Eleocharis nodulosa
''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'' ...
Eleocharis palustris
''Eleocharis palustris'', the common spike-rush, creeping spike-rush or marsh spike-rush, is a species of mat-forming perennial flowering plants in the sedge family Cyperaceae. It grows in wetlands in Europe, North Africa, northern and central A ...
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 ...
Eleocharis plana
''Eleocharis plana'', the flat spike-sedge, is a flat perennial sedge (in the family Cyperaceae) with creeping rhizomes, which grows up to 80 cm high in moist situations. It is widespread in inland New South Wales, and is also found in Queenslan ...
''
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
''Eleocharis pusilla'' 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 has a tufted habit. It blooms between August and September producing white flowers.
...
'' 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) ...
'' (Michx.) Roem. – squarestem spikerush
*''
Eleocharis quinqueflora
''Eleocharis quinqueflora'' is a species of spikesedge known by the common names fewflower spikerush and few-flowered spike-rush. It is widespread across Europe, North Africa, northern Asia (Siberia, China, Kazakhstan, Himalayas, etc.), and Nor ...
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 ...
Eleocharis triquetra
''Eleocharis triquetra'' is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to the Kimberley (Western Australia), Kimberley region of Western Australia.
The species was first described in 2011 by Karen Louise Wilson, Karen Wilson.
References
Eleocharis uniglumis
''Eleocharis uniglumis'' is a species of plant belonging to the family Cyperaceae.
Its native range is Europe to Russian Far East
The Russian Far East (russian: Дальний Восток России, r=Dal'niy Vostok Rossii, p=ˈdalʲn ...