Purple Spikerush

Eleocharis atropurpurea

Summary 1

Eleocharis atropurpurea is a species of spikesedge known by the common name purple spikerush. This is an aquatic plant native to much of the tropical world. It also has a wide distribution in temperate regions of North and South America and Asia. It is present in Europe, where it may be an introduced species for the most part. This plant can be found in wet areas from ocean shores to rice fields and irrigation ditches to...

Diagnostic 2

"Annual, 2-15 cm, forming small tufts. Roots fibrous. Stem 0.3-0.5 mm diam., with 5-6 obtuse angles separated by deep grooves. Lower closed sheath 3-5 mm, brown or reddish, upper to 10 mm, green or grey green, base often reddish, with 5-6 green nerves, mouth oblique; blades 0 or tip c. 1 mm. Spike 2-7 x 1-3 mm, ovoid or globose, with c. 30 or more glumes in five spiral rows, all fertile; basal glume not distinct or slightly larger and with more pronounced mid-nerve than in other glumes; glumes 1.1-1.6 mm, cymbiform, with prominent, green mid-nerve not quite reaching obtuse apex, sides brown or dark reddish brown, nerves obscure or missing, margins more or less scarious. Perianth bristles rising from white collar, 4-7 or 0, to as long as nut, white or pale brownish; stamens 1-2, anthers 0.3-0.5 mm. Nut obovoid, bi-convex, apex rounded, basal part gradually tapering, obscurely or finely reticulate, finally black, glossy; stylopodium much wider than long, c. 0.1 x 0.3 mm, white, clearly constricted from nut."

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleocharis_atropurpurea
  2. (c) India Biodiversity Portal, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/26335547

More Info