A full list of Arkansas sedges in genera starting with "S" is given below. The links preceeding that list, below, provide a quick look at the genera listed here, with quick ID hints. Work on this section is currently ongoing, with treatments for several taxa missing or incomplete.
Link to a picture of Schoenoplectus validus. Look for the inflorescence appearing to be lateral in the stem. The stem (actually a bract) appears to extend beyond the inflorescence in this genus, so that the flowering structures look like they're coming out of the stem. Kinda neat, huh?
Link to a picture of Scirpus cyperinus. In this genus, the inflorescences is at the end of the flowering stem (called "terminal"). This genus and the genus Schoenoplectus have been lumped by some authors in the past.
Link to a picture of Scleria verticillata. Scleria is unusual in having a "bony" achene. The achenes ("seeds") appear white when they mature, making the genus one of the easiest to recognize in the field.
Note: citations have not been added. If you're disparate, desparate, dispicable, or delectible, email me and I'll look the citations up.
This page provides a list of all Arkansas Schoenoplectus, Scirpus, and Scleria sedges. Names of species known in Arkansas are in larger print. I am adding brief hints for the field identification of each taxon. Taxonomic problems are somewhat settled on these genera in Arkansas, but need further review. Like much of my web site, this is a work in progress, and not the final word on the subject.
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1. Achene of a hard, bony, white or grey material (green when immarture), positioned on a spongy appearing disk or ring ... ... ... ... ... Scleria
1. Achene neither of a hard, bony, nor white or grey material, not positioned on a spongy appearing disk or ring ... ... ... ... ... 2
2. Inflorescence appearing lateral (that is, the culm or flowering stem appears to extend beyond the inflorescence), this appearance caused by a bract that appears stemlike beyond the point where the inflorescence is attached ... ... ... ... ... Schoenoplectus
2. Inflorescence not appearing lateral, but appears and is terminal (that is, the culm or flowering stem does not appear to extend beyond the inflorescence) ... ... ... ... ... Scirpus
1. Spikelets 1 - 20 per stem in a sessile cluster ... ... ... ... ... 2
2. Plants submerged; spikelet 1 per stem; plants rare in Tennessee, Missouri, and north, possibly rare in Arkansas ... ... ... ... ... Schoenoplectus subterminalis Torr.
2. Plants growing on wet shores or in shallow water, not submerged; spikelets (1 - ) 2 - 20 per stem; includes taxa both possible and common in Arkansas ... ... ... ... ... 3
3. Spikelets (1 - ) 2 - 5 ( - 8) per stem; plants growing near fresh water; bristles shorter than the achene; achenes 2.4 - 3.0 mm long ... ... ... ... ... 4
4. Styles and stigmas 2 ... ... ... ... ... Schoenoplectus pungens Vahl var. pungens
4. Styles and stigmas 3 ... ... ... ... ... Schoenoplectus pungens Vahl var. longispicatus(Britt.) S. G. Sm.
3. Spikelets (3 - ) 5 - 20 per stem; plants growing near brackish or salty water; bristles longer than the achene; achenes 1.9 - 2.6 mm long ... ... ... ... ... Schoenoplectus deltarum Schuyler
1. Spikelets several to many per stem in a branched inflorescence ... ... ... ... ... 5
5. Scales minutely ciliate with white hairs ... ... ... ... ... 6
6. Larger spikelets mostly 5 - 8 ( - 10) mm long; scales with reddish glandular dots on and near the midrib, and brownish on remainder of scale ... ... ... ... ... Schoenplectus tabernaemontani (Gmelin) Palla
6. Larger spikelets mostly 10 - 23 mm long; scales lacking reddish glandular dots and hyaline remainder of scale (other than midvein) ... ... ... ... ... Schoenoplectus acutus (Muhl. ex Bigelow) A. Love & D. Love
5. Scales glabrous on the margins ... ... ... ... ... 7
7. Sheaths bladeless or with much-reduced blades; scales about 3 mm long; achene barely apiculate ... ... ... ... ... Schoenoplectus californicus (C. A. Meyer) Palla
7. Sheaths, at least the upper ones, with well-developed blades; scales about 6 mm long; achene conspicuosly apiculate (about 1 mm) ... ... ... ... ... Schoenoplectus etuberculatus (Steud.) Sojak
This genus contains numerous species that approach or surround Arkansas. It is likely to be fertile ground for finding state records.
Yatskievych's revison of the Missouri flora (1999) and Diggs, et al. (1999) flora of North Central Texas do not address the varieties of this species. Kartesz (1999) maps two varieties; var. acutus occurs in Arkansas, and west and north while var. occidentalisS. Wats) S. G. Sm. occurs in Texas and many western states. Both varieties occur in portions of Canada. The varietial problem will be subject to further study for Arkansas. Smith (1988) reports a Logan County record housed at APCR. Edwin B. Smith (pers. commun.) also reports that someone reported it from Randolph and Lawrence counties. Yatskievych (1999) reports its Missouri habitat as "an emergent aquatic on banks of rivers, margins of ponds and lakes, marshes, and sloughs; wet depressions along roadsides and railroads." Diggs, et al. (1999) report it as a "rhizomatous perennial 1-3 meters tall formine extensive colonies" on calcareous mud, usually in water. Hyatt (1993) found it in Baxter County, Hyatt 2113.03 UARK comes from a pond edge about 5 miles west of Mountain Home. This species has a cluster of tiny spikelets on short branches giving a very nice artistic impression and would probably make a great wetland landscaping plant or curiosity in the garden. A specimen at APCR comes from Logan County.
The taxon is not currently known [by the author] in Arkansas, but does (or did) occur in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Missouri, as well as much of the western U. S. A. and along the Gulf and Atlantica coasts. It needs further review in Arkansas, both field and herbarium searches. See Smith (1988) for notes on its correct identification in Arkansas (Kartesz 1999). I need to confirm a report from Cleburne County (Babb 1703, herbarium unknown).
Smith (1988) reports specimens confirmed by Hyatt for this, from Comw, Hemp, John, and Unio counties. Habitats include Grassy Lake, Petit Jean Lake, and open areas of fill dirt from a lock and dam construction site on the Ouachita River. [Ask APCR for habitat in Johnson Co.]. It does not occur in Missouri (Yatskievych 1999) but does occur across the United States slightly further south of Missouri, and in Kansas and Illinoise (Kartesz 1999). While listed as being of conservation concern I suspect it may just be undercollected based on the fact surrounding states do not treat it as rare (ibid). Diggs, et al. (1999) refer to it as a "perennial 1-3+ meters tall, from tight subrhizomatous knots" in mud or shallow water, nearly throughout Texas."
This species is not currently known from Arkansas but based on its distribution could be there. Known from Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Missouri and Kansas (Kartesz 1999). Smith (1988) listed it as a possible addition for Arkansas, "perhaps to be found in brackish or saline habitats in Arkasnas (such as oil well runoff in Union County)." He noted (using the synonym) it is similar to Scirpus americanus.
This species is not currently known from Arkansas but occurs in Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina (Kartesz 1999). Obviously, its possible addition status in Arkansas needs review.
This is another species unknown in Arkansas, but in several adjoining states. Its status as a possible addition for Arkansas needs further review. Its recorded along the coastal states from Texas to Virginia, and from Missouri (Kartesz 1999). Smith (1988) considered it "probably present in Arkansas."
Here's another species that needs further review. Its not currently known from Arkansas, but is scattered in the continental U. S. and in southern Canada, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, through Indiana, south through Alabama, though absent in other coastal states in the southeastern U. S. (Kartesz 1999). Smith (1988) considered it "very likely in northeast Arkansas."
Here's another apparently rare Schoenoplectus that surrounds Arkansas in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, through Yankeeland (and farther nawth) to Kentucky, and in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. The case of its absence in Arkansas is a question that needs answering. Smith (1988) considered it "perhaps rare in sink-hole ponds in north central Arkansas. The author of this web page considers sinkhole species poorly known in that area. Baxter and Stone counties seem to contain primarily dry sinks, with the few wet sinks being rather small. Perhaps somewhere on private lands there remain sinks hidden from botanical review. Izard and Fulton county residents have hinted that such areas of sinks exist, but the author has failed to find nice areas of either large or numerous sinkhole ponds... and an absence of several species associated with such ponds at those ponds he has visited. Agreed, my visits have been brief. It would make a good master's thesis project... the study of the flora of such ponds in Arkansas.
Here's yet another species that, based on the map, could or should, be in Arkansas. Its known from Texas, north through the great plains states, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky and elsewhere north and west (Kartesz 1999).
Can you believe it? Yet another species in this genus known from several surrounding states [at least to this author who has not seen an Arkansas voucher yet]! This is a western and northern species, that surrounds Arkansas in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinoise though its otherwise absent in the southeast except for present in Virginia (Kartesz 1999). Like others, its absence in Arkansas is a mystery to me.
Here we go again. This hybrid of S. acutus and S. htterochaetus is unknown in Arkansas, but occurs in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Kentucky, as well as further north and in California (Kartesz 1999). Sounds like there are plenty of "possible additions to the Arkansas flora" in this genus. Want a state record? Collect it!
The curious distribution of this species also evades Arkansas. Its known from California, Missouri, Iowa, Tennessee, Kentucky, and a few other states up in Yankeeland's northeast.
Known from Baxt, Brad, Cleb, and Craw counties in habitat similar to the typical variety. This is the western variety of the U. S. A. and Canada (Kartesz & Meachum 1999).
Commonly found at springs, pondshores, and in roadside ditches in the Ozarks (15 counties) and also in Jeff and Unio counties. This is the eastern variety of the U. S. A. and Canada (Kartesz & Meachum 1999).
Yet another Schoenoplectus that occurs in several surrounding states (Mississippi through Missouri) and east (Kartesz 1999) but not in Arkansas.
Smith (1988) reported this species from Union County (specimens at UARK, USCH). The single site lies west of El Dorado on Champagnolle Road and covers about 25 acres of a roadside creek with high salt content from nearby oil wells (Smith 1988). This is a mostly coastal state species with the Arkansas occurrence being the only large landlocked state of occurrence (Kartesz 1999). It typically occurs in brackish marshes of the outer coastal plain (Radford, et al. 19668).
The range of this species centers on the great plains from Texas north to South Dakota, and includes Missouri but not Arkansas (Kartesz 1999). Like others, it needs review for its Arkansas potential status.
This northern species is apparently rare in several states, including Missouri, Tennessee, and southern appalachia (Kartesz 1999). I suspect it is unlikely for Arkansas, but need to review it. Smith (1988) considered it "perhaps rare in north central Arkansas.
Found in wetlands, pond and lake shores, and riverine systems. Known from Baxt, Cleb, Craw, Loga, Sali, and Wash counties. This species occurs throughout much of North America (Kartesz 1999).
This species is probably unlikely in Arkansas, based on its historic Missouri and other occurrence (see Kartesz 1999 for its range).
This genus contains several entities that approach Arkansas from adjoining states that are not listed below, based on Kartesz (1999).
Smith (1988, pers. commun. 1993) reports this species from 14 counties; Hyatt has seen specimens from 14 counties bring the total to 20 counties for Arkansas. Its very similar to Scirpus georgianus. See Yatskievych (1999) for details. It probably could be found throughout Arkansas, as Kartesz (1999) reports records from throughout the eastern United States and beyond.
Occurs nearly statewide, but apparently absent along the Missouri border in the Arkansas Ozarks (Smith 1988, Yatskeivych 1999). Known from 36 Arkansas counties and found more commonly as one goes south. Found in eastern U. S. A. and elsewhere, but absent in the southwestern U. S. A. (Kartesz 1999). This lush sedge is easily recognized in the field by this full, much branched inflorescences on stalks averaging 1.5 - 2.0 + meters tall. The spikelets appear fuzzy from the curly bristles that are much longer than the scales.
Smith reports a specimen (Bush 3685 MO from Clay County. This southeastern species (Texas to Virginia (Kartesz 1999)) appears to have been extirpated from Missouri (Yatskievych 1999), and if the above specimen is, as I suspect, from the 1920's to 1930's, may be extirpated from Arkansas as well. Perhaps field work will turn up new (undiscovered) sites in the southeastern half of Arkansas.
The difference between this and Scirpus acutus are minimal and well documented elsewhere. Both are expected throughout Arkansas, based on Smith (1988). Documented in most Ozark counties (18 counties generaly north and west of Pulaski County), scattered in south central Arkansas (5 counties), and northeast Arkansas (3 counties) in disturbed and natural wetlands.
This name was previously used for another Arkansas taxon (see Yatskeivych 1999 for details). The author examined numerous specimens and has not found this southeastern US species in Arkansas yet.
Scattered in a variety of wetlands in 17 northwest and north central Arkansas counties, and in 5 southeastern Arkansas counties.
Known in Arkansas from two UARK specimens. The Polk County site (Moore & Williams 510813) is from 1951 at a small spring on Big Fork Creek. The Greene County site (Peacock, s. n.) is from Pine Hill Cemetery Bog in Scattercreeek Wildlife Management Area.
Smith (1988) excluded this species from the Arkansas flora. He noted that Tucker (1987) mentioned it as "possibly occurring" in the uplands of Arkansas, but had not seen voucher material.
This genus contains a few entities that approach Arkansas from surrounding states that may well occur in Arkansas. See Kartesz (1999) for maps and species. I have not reviewed UARK holdings of Scleria at this time (April 2003). As a result, the following is based on Smith (1988) and the Flora of North America sedge volume 23: 242-251 (Reznicek, Fairey, & Whittemore 2002). Other records come from scattered herbarium specimens that I have seen from various herbaria. And, of course, I've made a few collections. Much work is needed to flesh out the distributions in Arkansas.
Smith's keys (1994) cover all the Arkansas taxa, except as noted below for the varieties of S. pauciflora; Smith (ibid) also treats S. muhlenbergii as S. reticularis for those who use his key. I need to review habitats, especially in the field through collecting. Collectors should search for this genus in any county to help flesh out records. Specimens should be collected when the achenes are fully formed. If the achenes are falling, its definitely time to collect! But collectors will quickly realize loose round achenes roll readily, so put those achenes in a packet before they roll away and are lost! Achenes collected a few weeks earlier may be green when collected, and turn white upon drying. Just try to make sure they are fully formed, by looking at the size of the achenes. If they are difficult to find, based on size, they are probably too small to use in determination. Most herbarium specimens are OK, because people tend to overlook the genus.
The distribution of this species is puzzling. Records come from 10 Arkansas counties: Ashl (Smith 1988), Baxt (Hyatt 1993), Bent (Smith 1988), Conw (APCR), Faul (UCAC), Fran (Smith 1988), Jeff (APCR), Sali (Smith 1988), Polk (Smith 1988), Wash (Smith 1988). I've seen it in much of the longleaf pine country in Louisiana, so perhaps it should be associated with Arkansas pines (?).This variety occurs in much of the southeastern United States (Kartesz & Meachum 1999). A second variety glabra (Chapman) Fairey, occurs in a similar distribution pattern: it misses Arkansas and Louisiana according to Kartesz & Meachum (1999). Flora of North America (Reznicek, et al. 2002) records three varieties, but shows none in Arkansas (ops!); all varieties are shown for Texas, along the coastal states to North Carolina or Virginia. Only var. ciliata is shown for inland states like Oklahoma, Missouri, and Tennessee. I need to study the Arkansas habitats. I suspect only the typical variety occurs in Arkansas.
Smith (1988) stated "Listed for Arkansas by Demaree (1943); the closest approach it makes to Arkansas is extreme southern Mississippi" (cf. Fairey 1967), Louisiana (Kartesz & Meachum 1999), or southeastern Texas (Kessler 1987). I concur with Smith in excluding this species from the flora of Arkansas.
[syn = Scleria reticularis Michx. var. pubescens Britton]
This plant is from "moist to wet (rarely dry) pinelands, savannas, prairies, and bogs" (Reznicek, et al. 2002).
Smith (1988) reports two records: Calh and Fult counties. I've seen neither specimen. Reznicek, et al. (2002) call this species an "uncommon inland [plant] from the coastal plain, occurring usually in wet places at lower elevations." Nevertheless, the range extends into Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinoise, and east to New York! See the Flora of North America treatment for a discussion of the true S. reticularis; that species occurs as far northwest as Wisconsin, but is absent in Arkansas, and the core states of Kentucky and Tennessee..
Smith (pers. commun. 1993) had records of this species in 23 Arkansas counties. The author has seen specimens from five more counties. It tends to occur at drier sites than S. triglomerata.
Habitats from Flora of North America include "dry to mostly wet pinelands, savannas, mesic woods, meadows, bogs, and prairies" (Reznicek, et al. 2002).
Folks who can readily separate this species from S. ciliata are probably high on something, sedge nerds, or blind to their own ignorance. Smith (1988) reports this species from the following counties: Ashl, Bent, Faul, Fran, Lono. The author has seen specimens from Ashl (APCR), Faul (UCAC), Hemp (APCR), and Prai (APCR) counties. The Arkansas Flora Committee currently recognizes the typical variety and the var. caroliniana (Willd.) Wood. This later variety has "denser pubescence of longer hairs . . . [and] is unworthy of formal taxonomic recognition" (Yatskeivych 1999). The Flora of North America (Reznicek, et al. 2002) recognizes both varieties. Smith (1988) notes that Fairey (1969) reported the atypical variety from Benton County, perhaps "based on a sheet of immature material", Demaree 6778 (UARK). I have seen specimens of the species from three Arkansas counties (Ashl, Faul, Hemp, and Prai), but have yet to check them for varietal status. Guess I'm not too phar out yet.
See the species as discussed above.
See the species as discussed above.
Habitats might be generally described as mesic woods for this very widespread species; that is, habitats vary. Smith (1988) reports 11 counties, scattered through most of the state except Crowley's Ridge and the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, for this species. I've confirmed those from Calh, Drew, and Faul counties, bringing the total of county reports to 12.
Smith (1988) reported Benton and Sharp counties for this species. I've seen no specimens yet. It occurs in a variety of wetland type habitats (see Reznicek, et al. 2002).
Hyatt, Philip E. 1993. A survey of the vascular flora of Baxter County, Arkansas. Castanea 58:115-140.
Reznicek, et al. 2002)
Yatskievych 1999
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