Common spike-rush facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Common spike-rush
Scientific classification
Genus:	Eleocharis
Species:	palustris
Synonyms
List Bulbostylis palustris (L.) Steven Chlorocharis palustris (L.) Rikli Clavula palustris (L.) Dumort. Cyperus paluster Missbach & E.H.L.Krause Cyperus paluster var. uniglumoides E.H.L.Krause Cyperus palustris (L.) Sessé & Moc. Eleocharis appendiculata Phil. Eleocharis boissieri Podp. Eleocharis ecarinata Zinserl. Eleocharis filiculmis Schur Eleocharis glaucescens (Willd.) Schult. Eleocharis globularis Zinserl. Eleocharis gracilis Hayek Eleocharis haematolepis Steud. Eleocharis intersita f. acetosa Tang & F.T.Wang ex Y.L.Chang Eleocharis kasakstanica Zinserl. Eleocharis kitamurana T.Koyama Eleocharis levinae Zoz Eleocharis limosa Drège Eleocharis lindbergii (Strandh.) Tzvelev Eleocharis minima f. major Boeckeler Eleocharis minima var. mexicensis H.Pfeiff. Eleocharis nebrodensis Parl. Eleocharis oxystachys Sakalo Eleocharis palustris var. degenerata Hook. Eleocharis palustris subsp. globularis (Zinserl.) T.V.Egorova Eleocharis palustris var. globularis (Zinserl.) A.E.Kozhevn. Eleocharis palustris subsp. intersita (Zinserl.) Tzvelev Eleocharis palustris var. kurilensis A.E.Kozhevn. Eleocharis palustris var. lindbergii Strandh. Eleocharis palustris subsp. lindbergii (Strandh.) Tzvelev Eleocharis palustris var. major Sond. Eleocharis palustris var. minor Hook. Eleocharis palustris subsp. vigens (L.H.Bailey) A.Haines Eleocharis palustris subsp. vulgaris Walters Eleocharis palustromicrocarpa Á.Löve Eleocharis quaesita Kitag. Eleocharis smallii Britton Eleocharis smallii var. major (Sond.) F.Seym. Eleocharis striata Hochst. ex Engl. Eleocharis vulgaris Á.Löve & D.Löve Limnochloa capensis Nees Megadenus palustris (L.) Raf. Schoenus palustris (L.) Bernh. Scirpus acicularis Oeder Scirpus appendiculatus (Phil.) Kuntze Scirpus baeothryon Schrad. Scirpus bailii Kohts Scirpus caespitosus Willd. ex Kunth Scirpus campestris Willd. ex Kunth Scirpus conicus C.Presl ex Mert. & W.D.J.Koch Scirpus glaucescens Willd. Scirpus intermedius Thuill. Scirpus ovatus Gilib. Scirpus palustris L. Scirpus palustromicrocarpus (Á.Löve) Á.Löve Scirpus reptans Thuill. Scirpus tenuis Schreb. ex Schweigg. & Körte Scirpus varius Schreb. ex Schweigg. & Körte Trichophyllum palustre (L.) House Trichophyllum palustre var. glaucescens (Willd.) House Trichophyllum palustre var. vigens (L.H.Bailey) House

Eleocharis palustris, often called the common spike-rush, creeping spike-rush, or marsh spike-rush, is a type of plant that grows in wet places. It's a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. This plant belongs to the sedge family, called Cyperaceae. You can find it in many parts of the world, including Europe, North Africa, and large areas of Asia and North America.

The common spike-rush can be a bit tricky to tell apart from other similar plants. It also looks quite different depending on where it grows. The scientific name palustris comes from a Latin word meaning "of the marsh." This name perfectly describes where this plant likes to live!

Types of Common Spike-Rush

Scientists have found different types of Eleocharis palustris. These are called subspecies or varieties. They are like different versions of the same plant species. Here are some of the recognized types:

• Eleocharis palustris subsp. iranica - Found in places like Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
• Eleocharis palustris subsp. palustris - This is the most common type, found across most of the plant's range.
• Eleocharis palustris var. vigens - This variety grows in North America.
• Eleocharis palustris subsp. waltersii - You can find this type in Europe and on the island of Cyprus.

Eleocharis palustris growing in a vernal pool in Israel.

See also

In Spanish: Junco palustre para niños