914

Schoenoplectus mucronatus (L.) Palla in Engl.

Synonym	:	Schoenoplectus mucronatus (L.) Palla
Family	:	Cyperaceae
Flowering and fruiting period	:	October-December
Distribution	:	Eurasia, from Central and South Europe east to Japan
Distribution in kerala	:	Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Palakkad, Kannur
Habitat	:	Grasslands, wet fallow fields, banks of streams and pools
Uses	:	used in water plantings and helps with stabilisation near dams and waterways. Also provides habitat for water birds. Is excellent in mass plantings or as an ornamental plant to decorate ponds
Key Botanical Characters:  Perennial herbs;Leaves reduced to 2 or 3 bladeless sheaths ; culms 40-60 cm high, few together, spongy below, mouth of sheath acute. Spikelets 0.6-1 x 0.6 cm, oblong, 10-25 in a cluster 2.5 cm below the tip of the stem; glumes 4 x 3 mm, obovate, shortly mucronate, pale brown. Nut 2 x 1.7 mm, plano-convex, truncate, apiculate, dark brown; bristles equal to the nut brown.