Rushes.Grasses and a Reed for ID

[mrs fish]

I've no idea what this little Bur Reed looking plant is ?



A couple of tall grasses for ID






Would this be Jointed Rush




Soft Rush or Compact Rush ?

[Bub-les]

I think 3 is Timothy grass
Barbara

[Tiggrx]

1. fruits of Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens)
2. Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis)
3. Timothy (Phleum pratense)
4. you may well be right - though Sharp-flowered Rush is similar
5. Can't really tell from picture for sure - but looks a little more like Soft Rush

[mrs fish]

Fruits of creeping butter cup

I will have better look at the rushes

[mrs fish]

Another pic of the Jointed or Sharp Flowered Rush



another pic of the Soft or Compact

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Another pic of the Jointed or Sharp Flowered Rush



another pic of the Soft or Compact

I think the first is possibly Jointed Rush as leaves look more flattened + plant not erect, but this species regularly hybridises with Sharp-flowered Rush + sometimes the hybrid occurs in the absence of 1 of the parents. A close look at the fruits are necessary.

Second is Soft Rush. In the field rub your fingers along the stem+ it's smooth to the touch; if you do this to Compact Rush, you will feel ridges along the stem!

[mrs fish]

Thanks for your help people

[mrs fish]

I went and felt the stem and it is soft

I found another Rush to-day , a small plant and it is just starting to flower half way down the stem so will take pic in the next few days

I like the Rushes

[RobSutton]

Thought I would post some photos showing the differences between the three common rushes for you. You'll need to look at the pictures at a bigger scale to see the stem ridges.

Soft Rush - stem glossy green and smooth, flower either compact or open


Hard Rush - stem more blueish green with strong ridges, flower always spread


Compact Rush - stem blueish green with strong ridges, flower always compact


Hope this helps.

[mrs fish]

Thank you Rob



I have a new ID

Is this a Rush or Reed ?

[RobSutton]

Could it be one of the club-rushes, whereabouts did you take the photo, it could perhaps be Sea club-rush if it was on the coast? Despite their name they are members of the sedge family but it isn't a group I'm very familiar with so I'm sure someone else will be able to give a more definitive answer.

[djackso]

This sedge looks similar, so it could be a sedge:

Google Image Result for http://botany.cz/foto/carexpaniceaherb1.jpg

[mrs fish]

It is growing on the very edge of the canal bank , I can't get any closer to it otherwise I might fall in

[djackso]

Oh, but mrs fish, we MUST know what it is - maybe you could put your waders on.

[mrs fish]

What should I be looking at ?
Please don't say the rhizome

[mrs fish]

I have been back and had another look , it is growing out of the water about 3-4ft , the stems are rough and triangular.

The canal is nearby to brackish water but it doesn't come into the canal.

So could it be Sea Club Rush ?

[djackso]

Yes, it could well be - take a look at this picture of Scirpus maritimus:

http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/SeaClubRush1.jpg

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by djackso

Yes, it could well be - take a look at this picture of Scirpus maritimus:

http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/SeaClubRush1.jpg

It is this, though it's now known as Bolboschoenus maritimus; Scirpus was so much easier to spell!

[mrs fish]

Is it unusual to grow in fresh water ?

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Is it unusual to grow in fresh water ?

I've seen it several times in fresh water. At the London Wetland Centre there are some large (planted) colonies in fresh water, though more typically it's found in brackish water.

We saw plenty of this at Elmley yesterday. It's a handsome sedge (despite it's English name it isn't a rush!) which is often planted.

[djackso]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

It is this, though it's now known as Bolboschoenus maritimus; Scirpus was so much easier to spell!

Groan - will never remember how to spell that.

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

It is this, though it's now known as Bolboschoenus maritimus; Scirpus was so much easier to spell!

Glad that's been sorted out.