73. 
Eleocharis obtusa (Willd.) Schultes? (immature) Spikerush 
Ivy Neck. One station: abundant in salt marsh at head of Cheston 
Creek estuary. Hectare 4753. Associate species: Typha latifolia, 
Scirpus validus. Higman 741. 
E. halophila L. Spikerush 
Java Farm. Two stations in salt marshes: Hog Island marsh (pure 
stand north of Hog Island, hectare 3582) and Typha latifolia marsh 
at junction of forks of Muddy Creek (hectare 3436). Higman 298, 677. 
E. intermedia L. Spikerush 
Ivy Neck. Two stations near drainage to Cheston Creek estuary: 
north end of grassy abandoned field on Scaffold Peninsula (hectare 
4762) and beside artificial pond above Cheston Peninsula (Murray property). 
Higman 881, 883, 994. 
Scirpus 
1. Involucre subtending the inflorescence consisting of a 
single bract resembling a continuation of the culm; 
culms leafless or basally leaved. 
2. Inflorescence without long branches, either a spike, 
a spikelet, or a cluster of spikelets; culms 3-angled, 
or if terete less than 3 mm. thick at the base. 
3. Plants tufted, annual, without rhizomes; mature 
achenes black or blackish. Expected (S. smithii, 
S. purshianus). 
3. Plants mostly solitary or scattered, perennial, 
with long rhizomes; mature achenes whitish, drab, 
or brown. (Also, rhizome hard; upper leaf sheaths 
closed; spikelets solitary or clustered, ovoid, 
reddish-brown to dark brown; scales ovate to 
orbicular, the margins irregular). 
4, Involucre linear, 2-15 cm. long, acute; upper 
sheath concave but not notched at orifice, with 
a long, linear, sharp-pointed blade............. 
In 
» americanus 
4. Involucre lance-triangular, 1-3.5 cm. long, 
blunt; upper sheath V-notched at orifice, with a 
lanceolate, blunt-pointed blade 8-15 mm. long. 
Expected (S. olneyi). 
