About Rhynchospora fascicularis (Michx.) Vahl
Rhynchospora fascicularis is a perennial graminoid that forms tussocks reaching around 1 to 1.5 meters tall. Its leaves are narrow, measuring about 1 to 4 mm wide. When blooming, flowers form in spikelet clusters that hold around 1 to 4 flowers each. Spikelets range between 3.5 and 5 mm in size and are reddish brown in color. Flowers have 5 or 6 bristles with forward-pointing barbs, and this species lacks rhizomes.
Rhynchospora fascicularis is distributed across areas with subtropical and tropical climates, which have mild winters, hot summers, and consequently rare frost. In the Southeastern United States, it can be found growing from Virginia, extending south into Florida and west to Texas; it is also present in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In Mexico, the species occurs in both the Gulf and southeastern regions. Its range further extends through Central America, including Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and continues into northern South America, where it is present in Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. The species can also be found in the Caribbean, with records from Bermuda, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.
Rhynchospora fascicularis grows in sandy and peaty soils. It commonly inhabits pine savanna habitat, and also occurs on coastal plains.
