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Cyperaceae taxon details

Rhynchospora alba (L.) Vahl

To New York Botanical Garden Steere Herbarium (Rhynchospora_luquillensis_NY51480_holotype_1)
To New York Botanical Garden Steere Herbarium (Rhynchospora_luquillensis_NY51480_holotype_1)

1678349 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:1678349)

  1. Biota
  2. Plantae (Kingdom)
  3. Viridiplantae (Subkingdom)
  4. Streptophyta (Infrakingdom)
  5. Tracheophyta (Phylum (Division))
  6. Spermatophytina (Subphylum (Subdivision))
  7. Magnoliopsida (Class)
  8. Lilianae (Superorder)
  9. Poales (Order)
  10. Cyperaceae (Family)
  11. Cyperoideae (Subfamily)
  12. Rhynchosporeae (Tribe)
  13. Rhynchospora (Genus)
  14. Rhynchospora alba (Species)
accepted
Species

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terrestrial
(of Schoenus albus L.) Linnaeus, C. (1753). Species plantarum, exhibentes plantas rite cognitas ad genera relatas cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas. Vol 1. Salvius, Stockholm., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358012
page(s): 44 [details] 
Lectotype  (of Schoenus albus L.) LINN -HL68-17  
Lectotype (of Schoenus albus L.) LINN -HL68-17 [details]
Description Rhizomes short. Stems 10–60 cm × 0.3–0.5 mm, tufted, erect, terete to trigonous above. Leaves mostly cauline, reduced...  
Description Rhizomes short. Stems 10–60 cm × 0.3–0.5 mm, tufted, erect, terete to trigonous above. Leaves mostly cauline, reduced to bladeless sheaths near base; blade narrowly linear, up to 15 cm × 1–2 mm, channelled, gradually narrowing to an obtuse apex, grey to yellowish-green; sheath up to 3.5 cm long, greenish to pale brown; lower sheaths often subtending bulbil-like buds; ligule absent. Inflorescence comprising 1–4 distant, pedunculate, capitate heads of spikelets; involucral bracts leaf-like, that subtending the lowermost head not exceeding the terminal head. Spikelets 3.5–5 × 0.8–1.3 mm, fusiform to ellipsoid, acute, whitish to pale brown. Glumes 4–5, 2–5 × 0.7–1 mm, ovate-lanceolate, with an acute to aristate apex and membranous sides, whitish to pale brown, the lowest one or two sterile, the uppermost three fertile, sterile and fertile respectively. Flowers bisexual; perianth bristles 9–13, with minute retrorse hairs, shorter than or equalling the nut; stamens 2–3; anthers 0.8–1.2 mm long; stigmas 2. Nuts 1.5–2 mm (excluding style-base) × 0.9–1 mm, obovate, biconvex, smooth to minutely papillose, pale to mid brownish; style-base persistent, conical, quickly tapering to a ~1 mm beak. [details]

Description Hierba perenne, densamente cespitosa. Tallos (10)15-40(46) cm. Hojas 0,5-1,5(2) mm de anchura, de menor longitud que los...  
Description Hierba perenne, densamente cespitosa. Tallos (10)15-40(46) cm. Hojas 0,5-1,5(2) mm de anchura, de menor longitud que los tallos, la mayoría basales o casi, canaliculadas o ± convolutas, con frecuencia planas hacia la base, con los márgenes ± escábridos, sobre todo hacia el ápice. Inflorescencia formada por 4 cimas corimbiformes densas, multiespecadas, generalmente las 2 superiores ± agrupadas al final de los tallos, las otras suelen estar muy distanciadas y pedunculadas; bráctea inferior de las cimas superiores de longitud menor o rara vez mayor que ellas; espiguillas 4,3-5,3 × 1-1,5 mm, ± fusiformes, de sección redondeada o ligeramente comprimidas. Glumas diminutas o subiguales, ovadas, de ápice mucronado o acuminado, blancas en la antesis, pajizas o de color pardusco claro en estado seco, las inferiores estériles. Estambres 2. Aquenios 1,3-1,5 × 0,8-1,2 mm, de contorno obovado, generalmente lisos, rara vez con minúsculas estrías transversales casi imperceptibles, de color pardo claro; estilopodio 0,8-1,5 mm, de contorno triangular-subulado, liso; cerdas periánticas 8-13, retrorso-escábridas, la mayoría de mayor longitud que el aquenio. 2n = 26*. [details]

Description Plants perennial, densely cespitose, 6–75 cm; rhizomes mostly absent. Culms erect to curved, leafy, obscurely trigonous...  
Description Plants perennial, densely cespitose, 6–75 cm; rhizomes mostly absent. Culms erect to curved, leafy, obscurely trigonous to nearly terete, few ribbed, slender. Principal leaves mostly overtopped by culm; blades narrowly linear to filiform, proximally flat, 0.5–1.5 mm, apex tapering, trigonous. Inflorescences: clusters 1 or 2–3, then widely spaced, narrowly turbinate to hemispheric, 1.5–2.5 cm wide; subtending leafy bracts often exceeded by distal cluster. Spikelets pale brown to nearly white, ellipsoid, 3.5–5.5 mm, apex acute; fertile scales elliptic, 3–3.5(–4) mm, apex acute or acuminate, midrib excurrent as mucro. Flowers: perianth bristles 10–12, slightly overtopping tubercle, retrorsely barbellate or rarely smooth, base often setose. Fruits 1(–2) per spikelet, (2.3–)2.5–3 mm; body pale brown with paler center, stipitateobovoid, lenticular, 1.5–1.8(–2) × 0.9–1.2 mm; surfaces transversely striate, relatively smooth, rim narrow, flowing to tubercle base; tubercle narrowly triangularsubulate, 0.5–1.2 mm. [details]

Taxonomic remark Source in seed data: wcs Update namepublishedIn from Enum. Pl. Obs. 2: 236 1805 to Enum. Pl. Obs. 2: 236 (1805),...  
Taxonomic remark Source in seed data: wcs Update namepublishedIn from Enum. Pl. Obs. 2: 236 1805 to Enum. Pl. Obs. 2: 236 (1805), information provided by Alan E. on email Jun. 07 2021 More details could be found in [details]
Cyperaceae Working Group. (2025). [see How to cite]. Global Cyperaceae Database. Rhynchospora alba (L.) Vahl. Accessed at: https://cyperaceae.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1678349 on 2026-09-12
Date
action
by
2023-09-06 07:35:01Z
created
Larridon, Isabel
2024-12-10 11:47:54Z
unchecked
db_admin
2025-09-02 07:51:11Z
checked
Marco Rosado, Nuria

Creative Commons License The webpage text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License


Nomenclature

original description (of Schoenus albus L.) Linnaeus, C. (1753). Species plantarum, exhibentes plantas rite cognitas ad genera relatas cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas. Vol 1. Salvius, Stockholm., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358012
page(s): 44 [details] 

basis of record Plants of the World Online (POWO). , available online at https://powo.science.kew.org/ [details] 

new combination reference Vahl, M. (1805). Enumeratio plantarum, vel ab alium vel ab ipso observatum, cum earum differentiis specificis, synonymis selectis et descriptionibus succinctis. vol. II, pp. 1-423., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7352986#page/9/mode/1up
page(s): 236 [details] OpenAccess publication

Taxonomy

taxonomy source Jermy, A.C.; Simpson, D.A.; Foley, M.J.Y.; Porter, M.S. (2007). Sedges of the British Isles. 554 pp. Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland, United Kingdom. [details] Available for editors  PDF available [request]

taxonomy source Luceño, M., Castroviejo, S., Jiménez-Mejías, P. (2008). Cyperaceae. In: Castroviejo, Luceño, M., Galán, A., Jiménez-Mejías, P., Cabezas, F., Medina, L. (eds). Flora iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares. Vol. XVIII. Madrid: CSIC., available online at https://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/records/item/12958-flora-iberica-vol-18-cyperaceae-pontederiaceae?offset=, http://www.floraiberica.es/PHP/familias_lista_.php?familia=Cyperaceae [details] 

Other

additional source Li, B. Z.; Zhang, S. R. (2024). An updated species checklist and taxonomic synopsis of Cyperaceae in China. <em>Biodiversity Science.</em> 32(7): 24106., available online at https://doi.org/10.17520/biods.2024106 [details] Available for editors  PDF available [request]

biology source Villa-Machío, I.; Zamora, J. C.; Sandoval-Sierra, J. V.; Blanco-Pastor, J. L.; Fernández-Mazuecos, M.; Jiménez-Mejías, P. (2022). Insect pollination in temperate sedges? A case study in Rhynchospora alba (Cyperaceae). Plant Biosystems, 156(1): 196-202., available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2020.1845846 [details] Available for editors  PDF available [request]

 
 Present  Inaccurate  Introduced: alien  Containing type locality 
   

Lectotype (of Schoenus albus L.) LINN -HL68-17 [details]
Syntype (of Schoenus albus L.) NY 00334793, geounit Europe [details]
From editor or global species database
Description Rhizomes short. Stems 10–60 cm × 0.3–0.5 mm, tufted, erect, terete to trigonous above. Leaves mostly cauline, reduced to bladeless sheaths near base; blade narrowly linear, up to 15 cm × 1–2 mm, channelled, gradually narrowing to an obtuse apex, grey to yellowish-green; sheath up to 3.5 cm long, greenish to pale brown; lower sheaths often subtending bulbil-like buds; ligule absent. Inflorescence comprising 1–4 distant, pedunculate, capitate heads of spikelets; involucral bracts leaf-like, that subtending the lowermost head not exceeding the terminal head. Spikelets 3.5–5 × 0.8–1.3 mm, fusiform to ellipsoid, acute, whitish to pale brown. Glumes 4–5, 2–5 × 0.7–1 mm, ovate-lanceolate, with an acute to aristate apex and membranous sides, whitish to pale brown, the lowest one or two sterile, the uppermost three fertile, sterile and fertile respectively. Flowers bisexual; perianth bristles 9–13, with minute retrorse hairs, shorter than or equalling the nut; stamens 2–3; anthers 0.8–1.2 mm long; stigmas 2. Nuts 1.5–2 mm (excluding style-base) × 0.9–1 mm, obovate, biconvex, smooth to minutely papillose, pale to mid brownish; style-base persistent, conical, quickly tapering to a ~1 mm beak. [details]

Description Hierba perenne, densamente cespitosa. Tallos (10)15-40(46) cm. Hojas 0,5-1,5(2) mm de anchura, de menor longitud que los tallos, la mayoría basales o casi, canaliculadas o ± convolutas, con frecuencia planas hacia la base, con los márgenes ± escábridos, sobre todo hacia el ápice. Inflorescencia formada por 4 cimas corimbiformes densas, multiespecadas, generalmente las 2 superiores ± agrupadas al final de los tallos, las otras suelen estar muy distanciadas y pedunculadas; bráctea inferior de las cimas superiores de longitud menor o rara vez mayor que ellas; espiguillas 4,3-5,3 × 1-1,5 mm, ± fusiformes, de sección redondeada o ligeramente comprimidas. Glumas diminutas o subiguales, ovadas, de ápice mucronado o acuminado, blancas en la antesis, pajizas o de color pardusco claro en estado seco, las inferiores estériles. Estambres 2. Aquenios 1,3-1,5 × 0,8-1,2 mm, de contorno obovado, generalmente lisos, rara vez con minúsculas estrías transversales casi imperceptibles, de color pardo claro; estilopodio 0,8-1,5 mm, de contorno triangular-subulado, liso; cerdas periánticas 8-13, retrorso-escábridas, la mayoría de mayor longitud que el aquenio. 2n = 26*. [details]

Description Plants perennial, densely cespitose, 6–75 cm; rhizomes mostly absent. Culms erect to curved, leafy, obscurely trigonous to nearly terete, few ribbed, slender. Principal leaves mostly overtopped by culm; blades narrowly linear to filiform, proximally flat, 0.5–1.5 mm, apex tapering, trigonous. Inflorescences: clusters 1 or 2–3, then widely spaced, narrowly turbinate to hemispheric, 1.5–2.5 cm wide; subtending leafy bracts often exceeded by distal cluster. Spikelets pale brown to nearly white, ellipsoid, 3.5–5.5 mm, apex acute; fertile scales elliptic, 3–3.5(–4) mm, apex acute or acuminate, midrib excurrent as mucro. Flowers: perianth bristles 10–12, slightly overtopping tubercle, retrorsely barbellate or rarely smooth, base often setose. Fruits 1(–2) per spikelet, (2.3–)2.5–3 mm; body pale brown with paler center, stipitateobovoid, lenticular, 1.5–1.8(–2) × 0.9–1.2 mm; surfaces transversely striate, relatively smooth, rim narrow, flowing to tubercle base; tubercle narrowly triangularsubulate, 0.5–1.2 mm. [details]

Taxonomic remark Source in seed data: wcs Update namepublishedIn from Enum. Pl. Obs. 2: 236 1805 to Enum. Pl. Obs. 2: 236 (1805), information provided by Alan E. on email Jun. 07 2021 More details could be found in [details]

Translation Perennial herb, densely tufted. Stems (10)15–40(46) cm tall. Leaves 0.5–1.5(2) mm wide, shorter than the stems, mostly basal or nearly so, channelled or ± convolute, often flat towards the base, with margins ± scabrid, especially towards the apex. Inflorescence composed of 4 dense corymbiform cymes, multi-spikeleted, usually with the upper 2 ± grouped at the end of the stems, the others generally widely spaced and pedunculate; lower bract of the upper cymes shorter than or rarely longer than them; spikelets 4.3–5.3 × 1–1.5 mm, ± fusiform, with a rounded or slightly compressed cross-section. Glumes minute or subequal, ovate, with a mucronate or acuminate apex, white at anthesis, straw-coloured or pale brown when dry, the lower ones sterile. Stamens 2. Achenes 1.3–1.5 × 0.8–1.2 mm, obovate in outline, generally smooth, rarely with minute, almost imperceptible transverse striations, light brown in colour; stylopodium 0.8–1.5 mm long, triangular-subulate in outline, smooth; perianth bristles 8–13, retrorsely scabrid, most of them longer than the achene. 2n = 26*. [details]
    Definitions

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To Biodiversity Heritage Library (1082 publications) 
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (17 publications) (from synonym Mariscus albus (L.) Gilib.)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (3 publications) (from synonym Phaeocephalum album (L.) House)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (3 publications) (from synonym Dichromena alba (L.) J.F.Macbr.)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (310 publications) (from synonym Schoenus albus L.)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (4 publications) (from synonym Triodon albus (L.) Farw.)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (6 publications) (from synonym Rhynchospora luquillensis Britton)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (9 publications) (from synonym Scirpus albus (L.) Salisb.)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Rhynchospora alba) 
To GenBank (23 nucleotides; 17 proteins) 
To GenBank (23 nucleotides; 17 proteins) (from synonym Schoenus albus L.)
To International Plant Names Index (IPNI) (from synonym Scirpus albus (L.) Salisb.)
To International Plant Names Index (IPNI) (from synonym Phaeocephalum album (L.) House)
To International Plant Names Index (IPNI) (from synonym Schoenus albus L.)
To International Plant Names Index (IPNI) (from synonym Rhynchospora alba var. kiusiana Makino)
To International Plant Names Index (IPNI) (from synonym Rhynchospora alba f. laeviseta Gale)
To International Plant Names Index (IPNI) 
To International Plant Names Index (IPNI) (from synonym Rhynchospora luquillensis Britton)
To International Plant Names Index (IPNI) (from synonym Dichromena alba (L.) J.F.Macbr.)
To International Plant Names Index (IPNI) (from synonym Mariscus albus (L.) Gilib.)
To International Plant Names Index (IPNI) (from synonym Triodon albus (L.) Farw.)
To IUCN Red List (Least Concern) 
To New York Botanical Garden Steere Herbarium (Rhynchospora_luquillensis_NY51480_holotype_1) (from synonym Rhynchospora luquillensis Britton)
To New York Botanical Garden Steere Herbarium (Schoenus_albus_NY334793_type_1) (from synonym Schoenus albus L.)
To Plants of the World Online (from synonym Scirpus albus (L.) Salisb.)
To Plants of the World Online (from synonym Schoenus albus L.)
To Plants of the World Online (from synonym Rhynchospora alba f. laeviseta Gale)
To Plants of the World Online (from synonym Triodon albus (L.) Farw.)
To Plants of the World Online (from synonym Rhynchospora alba var. kiusiana Makino)
To Plants of the World Online (from synonym Dichromena alba (L.) J.F.Macbr.)
To Plants of the World Online (from synonym Mariscus albus (L.) Gilib.)
To Plants of the World Online 
To Plants of the World Online (from synonym Phaeocephalum album (L.) House)
To Plants of the World Online (from synonym Rhynchospora luquillensis Britton)
To The Plant List (from synonym Rhynchospora alba f. alba (L.) Vahl)
To US Herbarium (Rhynchospora luquillensis US697785 type 1) (from synonym Rhynchospora luquillensis Britton)
From editor or global species database
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