Eleocharis acuta
{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Common spikerush
|image = Eleocharis_acuta_R.Br._(AM_AK345885).jpg
|status =
|status_system =
|genus = Eleocharis
|species = acuta
|authority = R.Br.
}}
Eleocharis acuta, commonly known as common spikerush or small spikerush,{{cite web|url=https://www.bluedale.com.au/plant-range/wetland-plants/macrophytes/eleocharis-acuta|title=Eleocharis acuta|accessdate=10 October 2017|publisher=Bluedale Wholesale Nursery}} is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia.{{FloraBase|name=Eleocharis acuta|id=822}}
Description
The rhizomatous perennial herb to grass-like sedge typically grows to a height of {{convert|0.7|m|ft|1}}. It blooms between September and December producing brown flowers. It has fine upright cylinder-shaped deep-green foliage that tapers to a fine point. It has tufted and terete culms that are {{convert|10|to|60|cm|in|1}} in length with a diameter of {{convert|1|to|3|mm|in|3}}. The inflorescence is found at the tip of the spike and is composed of narrow-ovoid to narrow-cylindrical spikelets with a length of {{convert|10|to|30|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}. It will later form a shiny yellow to brown coloured nut with a plano-convex to biconvex, broad-obovoid shape that is around {{convert|1.5|to|1.7|mm|in|3|abbr=on}} in length with a diameter of {{convert|1.1|to|1.2|mm|in|3|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eleocharis~acuta|title=Eleocharis acuta R.Br.|accessdate=10 October 2017|work=PlantNET|publisher=Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney}}
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described by the botanist Robert Brown in 1810 as part of the work Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. The name of the species is often misapplied to Eleocharis pallens.{{cite web|url=http://bie.ala.org.au/species/http://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/951352#names|title=Eleocharis acuta R.Br. (misapplied to Eleocharis pallens)|accessdate=10 October 2017|work=Atlas of Living Australia|publisher=Global Biodiversity Information Facility}}
Distribution and habitat
It is found widely through all Australian states, but not the Northern Territory. It is also found in New Zealand, New Guinea and Norfolk Island.
In Western Australia it is found in and around swamps and clay pans in the Mid West, Wheatbelt, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions where it grows in sandy-peaty-clay soils.
It typically occurs in water or wet soil, seepage areas, freshwater lakes, and creek-beds.{{cite book |title= Flora of the South West: Bunbury, Augusta, Denmark |volume= 1-2|author= Judith Roderick Wheeler|author2= N. G. Marchant|author3= Margaret Lewington |publisher= UWA Publishing |year= 2002 |isbn= 9780642568144 |page=273}}
Uses
It is able to grow in stationary to slowly moving water with a range extends from the coast to many inland areas. It is used in wetland area and is habitat for waterbirds as nesting material and the seeds as a food source.{{cite web|url=http://www.ozwatergardens.com.au/eleocharis-acuta|title=Eleocharis acuta|accessdate=10 October 2017|publisher=Oz Watergardens}}
The plant is sold commercially as it can form dense swards able to easily colonize shallow fresh water areas including along the edges of lagoons, dams, drainage lines and waterlogged low-lying areas.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15584469}}
Category:Plants described in 1810
Category:Flora of Western Australia
Category:Flora of South Australia
Category:Flora of Victoria (state)