 Photo ©
Carl Farmer |
Common in wet ground and loch edges Spike c 5-20 mm. Plant to 60 cm high in water, usually much smaller on land. ID: Topmost stem sheath cut off at an angle nearer to flat than to 45° (pic below right). Basal 2 glumes clearly different from the others, being smaller, green in the middle, and each half-encircling the base of the spike. E uniglumis has just one such basal glume, almost completely encircling the spike base. Examine several to be sure which species it is. Other features: Spreads by creeping rhizomes, putting up individual stems in the first year and small tufts the next. Basal 2 glumes do not contain a flower. Two stigmas per flower (clearly seen in pic on left), a feature it shares with E uniglumis, the other two Skye spike-rushes having three. Our plants are subspecies vulgaris. |
