About Fimbristylis spadicea (L.) Vahl
Fimbristylis spadicea (L.) Vahl commonly grows up to 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) tall, and forms thick clumps. Its narrow leaves grow from the base of the plant. The base of the leaves is dark brown and sturdy, and the leaves reach between one half and two thirds of the plant’s total height. This sedge produces small flowers that are hidden behind dark, glossy brown scales; these scales form bud-shaped spikelets.
Fimbristylis spadicea is native to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the Americas. On the Atlantic coast, its range extends from New York to northern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts, and continues south to Argentina’s Rio de la Plata estuary. On the Pacific coast, its range extends from northwestern Mexico to Peru. It most commonly grows in salt marshes, coastal dunes, and inland brackish marshes, particularly near wharves.
