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Common Spike-rush

©Neil Wyatt

Common spike-rush

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Scientific name: Eleocharis palustris
Forming mats of straight, bright green stems, Common spike-rush does, indeed, look like lots of tightly clustered 'spikes' near the water's edge of our wetland habitats.

Top facts

Stats

Height: up to 60cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

January to December

About

A creeping plant found on marshes and at pond edges, Common spike-rush is widespread and common sedge. Its bright green stems arise in tufts and are decorated with brown, egg-shaped flowers from May to July. It spreads using rhizomes (underground stems) and can form dense stands.

What to look for

Common spike-rush forms mats of bright green, upright stems. At the end of the stems, the rounded, brown spikelet (containing the flowers) appears.

Where to find

Widespread.

Habitats

Did you know?

The leaves of Common spike-rush are reduced to sheaves around the stems, so it looks as if it has none at all.