This plant was found in a coastal cattail marsh along St.Lawrence River downstream from Kingston, Ontario in the end of June 2007. It looks like a giant Cyperacea species, may be Scirpus sp. The plants were above 1 meter, still growing up and did not have any generative features. The stem is sharply trigonous about 2 cm (1 inch) in diameter. Leaves about 3 cm wide, almost flat with a ridge on the lower surface (slightly V-shape). The node on the straw is of bright orange color. The sheeth is open above. I know relatively well wetland plant to the north of that location. It might be of of the species to the south. Thank you for anyone help!
Somewhat similar to Carex riparia, though probably a related species, not that (since C. riparia is a European species). Check for similar species native to North America: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=105644
Importnat additional feature: this species always grows single stem. Also this species is larger than Carex lacustris that is the largest (known to me) Carex species in the area. One of the potential candidates I have in mind is Scirpus expansus but I could not find a good picture of it in Internet. Could someone comment on this idea? I put another picture of this plant - this is back of a leaf at the junction with the stem.
Potentially I can revisit it but it is not likely. It is more than 170 km from my home and I would need a boat to get to the site. Hopefully, I will see this plant again somewhere. Thank you for your interest. I will send a picture of this plant if I see it again.
Well, I'd opt for Scirpus or possibly Cyperus. Are you able to get your hands on a copy of Manual of Vascular Plants for northeastern US and adjacent Canada (as well as the accompanying illustrated volume)?
Thank you for your hints. I agree that most probable it is Scirpus and Cyperus although I have not been thinking about Cyperus since I don't know any of them of similar size. In Gleason and Croquist 1991 there are two possible candidates: 1. Scirpus fluviatilis - http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/floramw/species/scirfluv.htm 2. Scirpus expansus but this one has lower sheeths anthocyanic that is not the case here. So by exclusion of other options it should be Scirpus fluviatilis. Everyone who knows this species please comment!
