Jump to content

Eleocharis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected fromSpikerush)

Eleocharis
Eleocharis calva
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Eleocharis
R.Br.[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • HeleocharisT.Lestib
  • LimnochloaP.Beauv. ex Lestib
  • MegadenusRaf.
  • ClavulaDumort.
  • HeliocharisLindl.
  • BaeothryonEhrh. ex A.Dietr.
  • ChaetocyperusNees
  • EleogenusNees
  • ScirpidiumNees
  • ElaeocharisBrongn.
  • WebsteriaS.H.Wright
  • ChlorocharisRikli
  • ChillaniaRoiv.
  • ChamaegyneSuess.
  • HelonemaSuess.
  • EgleriaL.T.Eiten

Eleocharisis a virtuallycosmopolitangenus of 250 or more species offlowering plantsin the sedge family,Cyperaceae.[2]The name is derived from theGreekwords ἕλειος (heleios), meaning "marsh dweller," and χάρις (charis), meaning "grace."[3]Members of the genus are known commonly asspikerushesorspikesedges.The genus has a geographicallycosmopolitan distribution,with centers of diversity in theAmazon Rainforestand adjacent eastern slopes of theSouth AmericanAndes,northernAustralia,easternNorth America,California,Southern Africa,and subtropicalAsia.The vast majority ofEleocharisspecies grow in aquatic or mesic habitats from sea level to higher than 5,000 meters in elevation (in the tropical Andes).[4]

The genus itself is relatively easy to recognize; allEleocharisspecies have photosynthetic stems but no green leaves (the leaves have been reduced to sheaths surrounding the base of the stems). Many species are robust,rhizomatously-spreadingplants of lowland tropicalwetlands,while many others are smallcaespitoseannual or perennial herbs growing near streams, and still others are intermediate. There are also a number of species that are obligateaquaticspecies, which usually have submerged, branching stems and often exhibit interesting photosynthetic adaptations, such as the ability to switch betweenC3andC4carbon fixationin response to different environmental stimuli. In allEleocharisspecies, the flowers are borne on unbranched terminal spikelets at the apices of stems.[5][6][7][8]

In spite of the diversity of the genus itself, taxonomic characters useful for delimiting species within it are few, and many species are very difficult to tell apart. Many currently recognized species with very wide geographic ranges are highlypolymorphic.Some of these species probably contain multiple independently evolving lineages. Because of their difficult nature, it is suggested that many botanists avoid collecting these plants and so many species are under-represented in the botanical record.[citation needed]

One of the best known species is the Chinese water chestnut,Eleocharis dulcis.These plants bear tubers on their rhizomes which may be peeled and eaten raw or boiled. In Australia,magpie geeserely almost exclusively on these tubers for sustenance for a significant portion of the year.

Selected species

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Genus:EleocharisR. Br ".Germplasm Resources Information Network.United States Department of Agriculture. 2010-03-03. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-12-03.Retrieved2013-05-03.
  2. ^abKew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ^Smith, S. Galen; Bruhl, Jeremy J.; González-Elizondo, M. Socorro; Menapace, Francis J."ELEOCHARISR. Brown, Prodr. 224. 1810 ".Flora of North America.eFloras.org.Retrieved2013-05-03.
  4. ^Govaerts, R. & Simpson, D.A. (2007). World Checklist of Cyperaceae. Sedges: 1-765. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  5. ^Flora of North America, Vol. 23 Page 4, 6, 7, 29, 60,EleocharisR. Brown, Prodr. 224. 1810.
  6. ^Flora of China, Vol. 23 Page 188,Bột tề chúcbi qi shu,EleocharisR. Brown, Prodr. 224. 1810.
  7. ^Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Eleocharisincludes photos plus distribution maps for Europe and sometimes for North America
  8. ^Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution maps for US and Canadian species
  9. ^"Eleocharis".Integrated Taxonomic Information System.Retrieved2013-05-03.
  10. ^"GRIN Species Records ofEleocharis".Germplasm Resources Information Network.United States Department of Agriculture. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-06-26.Retrieved2013-05-03.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toEleocharis.
Wikispecieshas information related toEleocharis.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eleocharis&oldid=1193404509"