Schoenus nigricans L.

Family: CYPERACEAE

Genus: Schoenus

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Rocky coastlines. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Humid soils.

Characteristics: A herb which looks like a small reed, with compact, rigid leaves and stems, and the base covered in shiny brown pods. The inflorescence is blackish and compact at the top of the stems. It lives in slightly moist places, not necessarily boggy, generally near the coast, but also in the mountain. It flowers throughout spring to the summer. It can be distinguished from reeds by the compact, black inflorescence where it is difficult to recognise the flowers.