Common spikerush facts for kids

The Eleocharis acuta, often called common spikerush or small spikerush, is a type of grass-like plant known as a sedge. It belongs to the Cyperaceae family and grows naturally in Australia.

What Does Common Spikerush Look Like?

This plant is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows from underground stems called rhizomes, which help it spread. It can reach a height of about 0.7 meters (2.3 feet).

Common spikerush blooms between September and December, showing brown flowers. It has thin, upright, deep-green leaves that are shaped like cylinders and become pointy at the top. The main stems, called culms, are usually 10 to 60 centimeters (3.9 to 23.6 inches) long and 1 to 3 millimeters (0.04 to 0.12 inches) wide.

The flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence at the very tip of the stem. These clusters are narrow and shaped like an oval or cylinder, measuring 10 to 30 millimeters (0.39 to 1.18 inches) long. After flowering, the plant produces shiny yellow to brown nuts. These nuts are about 1.5 to 1.7 millimeters (0.06 to 0.07 inches) long and 1.1 to 1.2 millimeters (0.04 to 0.05 inches) wide.

How Was Common Spikerush Named?

The common spikerush was first officially described by a botanist named Robert Brown in 1810. He included it in his important book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. Sometimes, people mistakenly call another plant, Eleocharis pallens, by this name.

Where Does Common Spikerush Grow?

You can find common spikerush all over Australia, except in the Northern Territory. It also grows in New Zealand, New Guinea, and Norfolk Island.

In Western Australia, it likes to grow in wet areas like swamps and clay pans. It's found in regions such as the Mid West, Wheatbelt, Great Southern, and Goldfields-Esperance. It prefers sandy, peaty, or clay soils.

Generally, this plant thrives in water or very wet soil. You can often spot it in seepage areas, freshwater lakes, and along creek-beds.

What Are the Uses of Common Spikerush?

Common spikerush can grow in water that is still or moving slowly. It can be found from coastal areas to many places inland. This plant is often used in wetland areas because it provides a home for waterbirds. Birds use it for nesting material, and they also eat its seeds.

This plant is sold by businesses because it can form thick patches. It easily grows in shallow freshwater areas, including the edges of lagoons, dams, drainage lines, and low-lying spots that are often waterlogged.

Images for kids

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  This image shows Eleocharis palustris in a vernal pool in Rehovot, Israel.

See also

In Spanish: Junco palustre para niños