Eleocharis acuta

Common Spike-rush at Belconnen, ACT

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Identification history

Eleocharis acuta	29 Jul 2023	Tapirlord
Eleocharis acuta	29 Jul 2023	Tapirlord
Eleocharis sphacelata	29 Jul 2023	JaneR
Schoenoplectus validus	29 Jul 2023	CarbonAI
Eleocharis sphacelata	29 Jul 2023	lbradley

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6 comments

lbradley wrote:

29 Jul 2023

Is this one considered a significant sighting? It's "rare or uncommon" and not many sightings in Canberra.

Tapirlord wrote:

29 Jul 2023

I'd think these would be the more common E.acuta, particularly around such as a small dam. The sense of scale is not great, but I think the plants are much smaller than meets the eye.

lbradley wrote:

29 Jul 2023

Unfortunately, I think you are right. :-(

Tapirlord wrote:

29 Jul 2023

I'll overide for now, but may change depending on what Jane has to say.

JaneR wrote:

29 Jul 2023

I was a bit undecided, the details weren't clear enough for a confident ID. The culms in main photo seemed rather narrow for E. sphacelata, but the spike could have been. Height would have helped (I can't see height observations).

I think you are right, more likely E. acuta. Habit is not right for E, sphacelata.

The reason E, sphacelata it is rare and uncommon is two-fold: most people overlook it; and the species is highly palatable, so preferentially grazed whenever there are cattle present: I don't know if kangaroos and wallabies graze on it as well.
Dam size (depth) is immaterial: it may appear to be associated with larger dams but that's because they offer a 'refuge' from hungry herbivores (ie just out of reach). There is no reason why Tall spikerush can't occur in smaller dams. I have known it grow in roadside drains.

lbradley wrote:

29 Jul 2023

I've just studied the sightings on CNM and I believe it is E. acuta. The plant apps failed me again.

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