Blunt Spikerush
(Eleocharis obtusa)
Blunt Spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa)
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Quinten Wiegersma
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Quinten Wiegersma
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Quinten Wiegersma | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Quinten Wiegersma | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2021-06-26T07:04:06-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Eleocharis obtusa, commonly known as blunt spikerush, is a perennial herb native to marshes, wet meadows, and the edges of ponds and streams throughout the West Coast and eastern half of the United States. It is an emergent aquatic plant that thrives in wetland habitats. Blunt spikerush typically reaches up to half a meter in height and features numerous green, cylindrical, and spongy stems that are erect but weak. The base of the plant may have thin, grass-like leaves that are generally straw-colored. The plant produces rounded or oblong spikelets at the top of each stem, each containing at least ten flowers. These are covered by oval-shaped brown bracts, which are not particularly showy. Flowering occurs in the summer months.
Blunt spikerush is valued for its ability to stabilize soil and filter water in wetland restoration projects. It is also used ornamentally in water gardens and naturalized pond edges. It requires full sun and high amounts of water, making it suitable for cultivation in areas with slow or standing drainage. While it can be a weed in rice paddies, it is not typically aggressive in controlled garden settings. However, it can spread in ideal wetland conditions, so care should be taken in its placement.CC BY-SA 4.0
Blunt spikerush is valued for its ability to stabilize soil and filter water in wetland restoration projects. It is also used ornamentally in water gardens and naturalized pond edges. It requires full sun and high amounts of water, making it suitable for cultivation in areas with slow or standing drainage. While it can be a weed in rice paddies, it is not typically aggressive in controlled garden settings. However, it can spread in ideal wetland conditions, so care should be taken in its placement.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Grass, Herb
- Height: 0.7-0.8 feet
- Width: 0.7-0.8 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: High
- Drainage: Slow, Standing
Common Uses
Bird Garden, Erosion Control, Low Maintenance, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Native to marshes, wet meadows, and the edges of ponds and streams
Other Names
Common Names: Blunt Spike Rush , Blunt Spikesedge , Broad Spiked Spikerush
Scientific Names: Eleocharis obtusa , Eleocharis obtusa var. obtusa , Eleocharis obtusa var. jejuna , Eleocharis obtusa var. ellipsoidalis , Eleocharis obtusa var. gigantea , Eleocharis obtusa var. peasei , Eleocharis ovata var. obtusa , Scirpus obtusus , Eleocharis jejuna , Trichophyllum obtusum
GBIF Accepted Name: Eleocharis obtusa (Willd.) Schult.