Cladium mariscoides (Muhl.) Torr.
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TAXONOMY
 
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Cladium
 
Species Synonyms: Mariscus mariscoides (Muhl.) Ktze.
Common Names: smooth sawgrass
twig-rush
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
Canada: eastern Saskatchewan, Ontario – New Brunswick – Nova Scotia – Newfoundland
Saskatchewan: eastern Saskatchewan; Wallwort
Ecoregion: Boreal Transition
 
HABITAT
 
Saskatchewan: fresh or brackish swamps, marshes and shores in deciduous forest
Associated Species: livid sedge, mud sedge
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Endangered
Nature Conservancy Status:
G5 S1
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Smooth sawgrass is endangered in Saskatchewan because it is extremely rare and is found in only one location. The local populations are small and cover a small area.
 
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
 
Height: 30 – 100 cm
Roots: rhizomes
Culms: 1 – 2 mm wide, obscurely three-sided
Leaves: 2 – 3.5 mm wide, channelled, smooth or nearly so
Inflorescence: terminal or terminal and lateral; inflorescence stalk mostly covered by leaf sheath, 15 – 25 cm long; branched inflorescence of up to four umbrella-like clusters, branches stiffly ascending
Spikelets: in groups of 3 to 5, narrowly elliptic to lance-shaped; scales spirally arranged, 2.5 – 3 mm long, 2 mm wide, oval to oblong, chestnut brown, midvein conspicuous, fertile flowers 1
Flowers: perianth bristles absent; stamens 2; styles 2 to 3-cleft, 2 – 2.5 mm long
Achenes: 2.5 – 3 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, round in cross section, ovoid, base 3 – 6 lobed and broadly squared, distinct terminal swelling lacking, whitish or pale green, glossy
 
CYPERACEAE KEY FOR GENERA FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN
 
1 Flowers unisexual; female flowers with sac-like covering on ovary
Carex
1 Flowers perfect; sac-like covering absent
2
   
2 Spikelets flattened; scales of spikelets 2-ranked
Cyperus
2 Spikelets not flattened; scales of spikelets spirally arranged
3
   
3 Spikelets with one fertile flower
4
3 Spikelets with many fertile flowers
5
 
4 Perianth bristles absent; achenes round in cross section
Cladium
4 Perianth bristles present; achenes flattened
Rhynchospora
 
5 Perianth shorter than or barely exceeding scales in fruit or absent
6
5 Perianth much exceeding scales in fruit, more than 2 x as long as achene
11
 
6 Stems without blade bearing leaves, basal leaves may be present
7
6 Stems with blade bearing leaves
10
 
7 Style base enlarged; stems with one spikelet
Eleocharis
7 Style base not enlarged; stems with several spikelets
8
 
8 Bracts 2 or more, exceeding inflorescence
Schoenoplectus
8 Bracts 1 – 2, shorter than or equal to inflorescence
9
 
9 Anthers 3 mm long; spikelets usually more than 1
Schoenoplectus
9 Anthers 1 – 2.5 mm long; spikelets always solitary
Trichophorum
 
10 Spikelets 1
Eleocharis
10 Spikelets 2 or more
Blysmus
 
11 Perianth bristles not more than 8, strongly curled, tangled in fruit, woolly in appearance
Scirpus
11 Perianth bristles very numerous, straight, not tangled, silky in appearance
12
 
12 Leaves to 25 cm long; perianth hairs barbed
Eriophorum
12 Leaves less than 1 cm long; perianth hairs smooth
Trichophorum