Schoenoplectus litoralis (Schrad.) Palla

Spice Roof detail In the field In the field 2 Inflorescence

Family: CYPERACEAE

Genus: Schoenoplectus

Sinònims: Scirpus litoralis Schrad.

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, ditches) and marshes.

Characteristics: A plant that lives in ponded water, with a rhizome rooted in the sediment below water, leaves and fertile stems rise above the water?s surface, at times reaching up to a metre in height above this medium. The inflorescence is made up of small brown spicules found upon a pedicel; all pedicels with spicules emerge above the superior portion of the stem, accompanied with a long bract. Very characteristic are the triangular-shaped stem cross-section. Can be told apart from Scirpus lacustris, as this latter has cylindrical stems, on the other hand, can be told apart from Scirpus maritimus as this species has much larger, black spicules and much shorter pedicels, which on the whole makes a much more compact inflorescence. Flowers at the end of spring and throughout the summer.