Fuirena squarrosa
Common name: hairy umbrella-sedge; salt-marsh umbrellagrass
| Fuirena squarrosa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo by the Atlas of Florida Plants Database | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Liliopsida - Moncots |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Genus: | Fuirena |
| Species: | F. squarrosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Fuirena squarrosa Michx. | |
| |
| Natural range of Fuirena squarrosa from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Contents
Taxonomic Notes
Synonyms: Fuirena hispida Elliott.[1]
Varieties: none.[1]
Description
F. squarrosa is a native perennial graminoid that is a member of the Cyperaceae family [2]. Species in this family grow reproductive units in the form of spikelets, which contain highly simplified flowers [3]. F. squarrosa has alternate simple leaves shaped linearly, and contains a fibrous root structure like most Monocots. The inflorescence is a spikelet, like other grasses, and the perianth contains bristles.[4]
Distribution
The species can be found in the Southeast United States, ranging from Texas to Virginia, as well as in the Northeast in Maryland, New Jersey, and New York [2]. It becomes more rare in communities located in Tennessee, Delaware, and New Jersey [5]. Although it is mainly distributed along the southeastern coastal plain, it is less strictly limited than other species.[6]
Ecology
Habitat
F. squarrosa can be found in mesic communities, including sphagnous bogs, [7] and can be found infrequently in pine-palmetto communities and wet prairies [8]. As well, F. squarrosa is present in habitats ranging from wet sandy loams of roadside depressions and other wet loamy sand disturbed sites. [9] In the New York coastal plain ponds, F. squarrosa is seen to be restricted to pond-shores, and is only observed in low water years.[10] It is listed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service as an obligate wetland species, where it only occurs in wetland habitats.[2] As well, F. squarrosa is considered an indicator species of panhandle seepage savannas in north Florida.[11]
Associated species - Eleocharis tuberculosa, Gentiana saponaria, Bartonia paniculata, Platanthera cristata, Pyrus arbutifolia, and Viburnum nudum [7].
Fuirena squarrosa is an indicator species for the Panhandle Seepage Savannas community type as described in Carr et al. (2010).[12]
Phenology
This species generally flowers from July until October.[6] This bloom time also denotes the fruiting period for F. squrrosa.[4] Flowering time ranges continuously from August until October, while fruit development has been seen in the months of May and October. [9]
Fire ecology
Sphagnous bogs and other similar communities are fire dependent due to their high acidity, which makes F. squarrosa dependent on fire frequency [13].
Herbivory and toxicology
This species is considered to be of poor foraging quality.[14]
Conservation, cultivation, and restoration
This species is listed as threatened by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Natural Features Inventory, and is listed as a species of special concern by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Natural Heritage Program.[2]
Cultural use
Photo Gallery
References and notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 USDA Plants Database URL: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=FUSQ
- ↑ Reutemann, A. G., Vegetti, A. C., and Pozner, R. Inflorescence development in Abildgaardieae (Cyperaceae, Cyperoideae). Flora 210: 3-12.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center URL: www.wildflower.org
- ↑ NatureServe Explorer URL: http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bridges, E. L. and S. L. Orzell (1989). "Syngonanthus flavidulus (Eriocaulaceae) new to Mississippi." SIDA, Contributions to Botany 13(4): 512-515.
- ↑ Hilmon, J. B. (1964). "Plants of the Caloosa Experimental Range " U.S. Forest Service Research Paper SE-12
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2018. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Ed Keppner, Lisa Keppner, Travis MacClendon, Karen MacClendon, George Wilder, J. Roche, R. A. Norris, Helen Roth, Floyd Griffith, and Richard Carter. States and counties: Florida: Putnam, Bay, Calhoun, Leon, Gadsden, and Jackson. Georgia: Brantley.
- ↑ Zaremba, R. E. and E. E. Lamont (1993). "The status of the coastal plain pondshore community in New York." Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 120(2): 180-187.
- ↑ Carr, S. C., et al. (2010). "A Vegetation Classification of Fire-Dependent Pinelands of Florida." Castanea 75(2): 153-189.
- ↑ Carr, S.C., K.M. Robertson, and R.K. Peet. 2010. A vegetation classification of fire-dependent pinelands of Florida. Castanea 75:153-189.
- ↑ Campbell, C. S. (1983). "Systematics of the Andropogon virginicus complex (Gramineae)." Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 64(2): 171-254.
- ↑ Hilman, J. B. (1964). "Plants of the Caloosa Experimental Range " U.S. Forest Service Research Paper SE-12
