Disclaimer:

The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.

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Common name: Eggers' nutrush

Synonyms and Other Names: Scleria grisbachii C.B. Clarke, Scleria microcarpa Griseb., Scleria mitis P.J. Bergius subsp. eggersiana (Boeck.) T. Koyama, Scleria mitis sensu Britton & Wilson (1923) non P.J. Bergius.

Cortadera, Cortadora, Cortadora de altura, Lambedora

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification: According to Core (1936):

Habit: emergent, perennial, aquatic gramminoid (sedge)

Stems/Roots: Rhizomatous woody roots, with thick, triangular culms

Leaves: winged sheathes with a slightly pubescent ligule; blades 3-ranked (see sedge), scabrous (rough), 1-2.5 cm wide, >30 cm long

Flowers: paniculate inflorescence at the apex and upper leaf axils; densely cilliated, 3-lobed hypogynium on female flowers

Fruits/Seeds: white, smooth, 2.5-3 mm long achene with glabrous to antrorsely (upward-facing) minute pubescence on the style bases.

Look-a-likes: Scleria microcarpa Nees ex Kunth (tropical nutrush) has smaller achenes and narrower leaves than S. eggersiana (Core 1948). Scleria lacustris C. Wright (Wright's nutrush) has hypogyniums with entire margins (Core 1948). Scleria mitis P.J. Bergius, has style bases with retrorsely (downward-facing) minute pubescence (Koyama 1984).

Size: 1-2 m tall, >30 cm leaf length (Core 1936)

Native Range: Puerto Rico, The West Indies (Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles), Mexico, Central America and South America (Liogier & Martorell 2000, Axelrod 2011)

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Ecology:

Life history: Mature Scleria eggersiana flower and fruit from January-February, May-June, and September-October within its native range (Axelrod 2011), although flowering plants were found in Florida in April and July (Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health 2018, Wunderlin et al. 2018). Seedlings were present and abundant in April in SW Florida (Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health 2018).

Habitat: Scleria eggersiana are found in swamps and cypress domes (FNAI 2018).

Community: Associated species include Taxodium sp. (Wunderlin et al. 2018).

Status: Populations are established in Okaloacoochee Slough, Florida as of 2018 (Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health 2018).

References: (click for full references)

Axelrod, F.S. 2011. A systematic vademecum to the vascular plants of Puerto Rico. Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Ft. Worth, TX.

Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. 2018. EDDMapS: Early detection and distribution mapping system. The University of Georgia, Tifton, GA. http://www.eddmaps.org.

Core, E.L. 1936. The American species of Scleria. Brittonia 2(1):1-108. https://doi.org/10.2307%2F2804936.

Core, E.L. 1948. The genus Scleria in Colombia. Caldasia 5(21):17-32. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44243577.

Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI). 2018. Scleria eggersiana. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL. http://fnai.org/Invasives/Scleria%20eggersiana.pdf.

Koyama, T. 1984. Cyperaceae of Tropical America: some new or critical species III. Acta Amazonica 14(1/2):105-115. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aa/v14s1-2/1809-4392-aa-14-s1-2-0105.pdf.

Liogier, H.A., and L.F. Martorell. 2000. Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands: a systematic synopsis. 2nd edition. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.

Wunderlin, R.P., B.F. Hansen, A.R. Franck, and F.B. Essig. 2018. Atlas of Florida Plants. [S.M. Landry and K.N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/.

Other Resources:
Florida Natural Areas Inventory report

 

Author: Pfingsten, I.A.

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.