NC Common Wetland Plants Guide: Rhynchospora corniculata

Coefficient of Conservatism Values (more info)

Mountains

n/a

Piedmont

Coastal Plain

National Wetland Plant List Status (more info)

Eastern Mountains/Piedmont

OBL

Coastal Plain

OBL

FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:

Seeds are elongated and pointed within an open inflorescence; bristles at base of seeds are much shorter than the seed. This species has no horizontal rhizome. Godfrey and Wooten (1979) drawings are helpful.

Description: A tall (1 to 1.5 m), straight sedge, with large, spreading, multi-branched inflorescences on thick stem.

Leaves: Linear, grass-like leaves in basal arrangement; flowering stems longer than leaves.

Flowers/Fruit: Large, spreading, multi-branched inflorescences on thick stems. Seeds are brown in maturity and quite elongated. Flowers and fruits July through September.

Habit and Range: Open freshwater marshes, swamps, freshwater shorelines, beaver ponds. Found in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

Typical Max Plant Height (m):

1.5

Leaf Arrangement:

Basal

Leaf Division:

Simple

Leaf Margin:

Entire

Leaf Shape:

Linear

Inflorescence Color:

Brown

Fruit Color:

Brown

Lifespan:

Perennial

Group:

Monocot

Family:

Cyperaceae / Sedge

Ecoregions Found In:

Piedmont, Coastal Plain

COMMON CONFUSIONS:

Rhynchosposra corniculata (short-bristle horned beaksedge) is similar to the common R. macrostachya (tall horned beaksedge) which has bristles much longer than the seed. Also similar to R.a careyana (broadfruit horned beaksedge) and R. inundata (narrow-fruit horned beaksedge) (which both have more open inflorescences and have rhizomes).

Link to side-by-side comparisons page