Xyris smalliana
Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 22:159. 1895.
Herbs, perennial, cespitose, 50–150 cm. Stems compact. Leaves ascending in narrow fans, (19–) 30–50 (–60) cm; sheaths pinkish or pale-red, soft, smooth; blade pale green proximally, distally deep lustrous green, linear, flattened, plane, 5–15 mm wide, margins smooth. Inflorescences: scape sheaths exceeded by leaves; scapes linear, straight, distally slightly compressed, 1–2 mm wide, smooth, 2-ribbed; spikes ovoid to ellipsoid or cylindric, 10–20 (–25) mm, apex usually blunt; fertile bracts 5–8 mm, margins entire, apex rounded. Flowers: lateral sepals slightly to conspicuously exserted, slightly curved, 6–8 mm, keel scarious, apex not red, broad, thin, lacerate; petals unfolding in afternoon, blade obovate, 5–6 mm; staminodes bearded. Seeds translucent, narrowly ellipsoid to ovoid, (0.6–) 0.7 (–0.8 mm), irregularly ridged and crossridged. 2n = 18.
Phenology: Flowering summer–fall.
Habitat: Sandy or peaty shallows and shores of ponds and sluggish acidic streams
Elevation: 0–100 m
Distribution
Ala., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Miss., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., R.I., S.C., Tex., West Indies (Cuba), Mexico (Tabasco), West Indies (Cuba), Central America (Belize), Central America (Honduras), Central America (Nicaragua)
Discussion
Although no specimens were seen for Virginia, Xyris smalliana is to be expected there.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
"thin" is not a number.