Comprehensive Description
provided by North American Flora
Scirpus smithii A. Gray, Man. ed. 5, 563. 1867
Scirpus Smithii var. levisetus Fassett, Rhodora 23: 42. 1921. Scirpus Smithii f. levisetus Fernald, Rhodora 44: 479. 1942.
Cespitose annual; culms 1-2 dm. high, erect or sometimes prostrate-spreading, dull green, slender, terete or angled, sheathed at the base; upper sheaths bearing blades to 1 dm. long; involucral bract single, to 1 dm. long, erect or usually curved over the spikelets; spikelets usually 1-3, ovate-acute, sessile, 4-8 mm. long, 3 mm. broad; scales 3 mm. long, smooth, green, slightly mucronate-tipped ; bristles absent or 2-6, equaling or exceeding the achene; style bifid; achene 2 mm. long, 1.5 mm. broad, shining black, obscurely horizontally ridged, planoconvex or obscurely trigonous, apiculate.
Type locality: Shore of the Delaware River below Redbank, New Jersey. Distribution: Rare on tidal estuaries and sandy lake shores; Quebec, south to Virginia.
- bibliographic citation
- Alan Ackerman Beetle. 1947. (POALES); (CYPERACEAE); SCIRPEAE (PARS). North American flora. vol 18(8) New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY
