Scleria microcarpa

Common Name: tropical nutrush

Family: Cyperaceae

Common Synonyms: Ophryoscleria microcarpa

USDA Hardiness Zone: NA

Growth Habit: Graminoid

Origin: Tropical Americas

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: 2007

IFAS Assessment:

• North: CAUTION
• Central: INVASIVE
• South: CAUTION

Description

Typical-looking wetland sedge up to 1.25 m tall with triangular stems and 3-ranked leaves. Leaf blades are linear, 5 - 20 cm long and 0.5 - 0.9 cm wide, with a scabrous margin. The leaf blade is decurrent at the base, with the sheath extending wing-like down the stem to the collar. The contraligule (flap of tissue at the top of the sheath opposite the leaf blade) is lanceolate. Achenes are unprotected (lacking surrounding bracts) which is diagnostic of this species in Florida. The hypogynium (located at the base of the achene) is cup-shaped with a ciliate margin.

Habitat

Swamps and lake shores

Comments

Specimen Identified in Florida in 2016 around Lake Hatchineha, Polk County. Little is known about invasiveness or control.

Control Methods

• Manual: NA
• Chemical: Foliar (2% glyphosate) is effective in central FL.
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

Treatment tip from Alex Onisko, SFWMD.

References

Affonso, R., A. Zanin, N.A. Brummitt. 2015. Diversity of Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Rodriguesia, 66(2), 353-367. Accessed online on 05 January 2017: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2175-78602015000200353&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en