# Flat-stem Spikerush (*Eleocharis compressa*)

The Flat-stem Spikerush is a tall, grass-like plant that grows in wet areas. It has flat stems and tiny flowers that can be seen in the summer, making it a special part of its habitat.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wetlands

![Flat-stem Spikerush](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/18116906/medium.jpg)

Photo: aarongunnar, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/18116906)

## Appearance

The Flat-stem Spikerush has bright green, distinctly flattened stems that grow in dense, upright clumps. Its tiny, inconspicuous flowers are packed into a single, brown, spiky cluster at the very tip of each stem, making it look almost like a miniature club.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Cyperaceae
- **Genus:** Eleocharis

## Interesting facts

- Animals like muskrats snack on its hidden underground parts!
- Its stems are so flat, they feel like tiny ribbons between your fingers!
- Spikerushes are part of the sedge family, not true grasses!
- This plant helps filter water in its marshy homes!

## Special abilities

- **Water Whisperer:** Flat-stem Spikerush can thrive in waterlogged soil and shallow water, thanks to roots that tolerate low oxygen.
- **Rhizome Runner:** Flat-stem Spikerush has underground stems called rhizomes that help it spread and form new plants, creating dense mats.
- **Stem Powerhouse:** Flat-stem Spikerush performs most of its photosynthesis in its unique flat stems, capturing sunlight efficiently.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-60 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — consumes its seeds
- **Eats:** [Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — feeds on its underground rhizomes
- **Shelter:** Northern Leopard Frog (*Rana pipiens*) — hides among its dense stems
- **Shelter:** [Eastern Newt](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-newt) (*Notophthalmus viridescens*) — uses its thick stands for cover

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.
- [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always stay on paths when exploring wetlands to protect plants and animals.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Flat-stem Spikerush?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Flat-stem Spikerush?

10-60 cm

### How wide does Flat-stem Spikerush spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Flat-stem Spikerush?

0.3-1 cm

### When does Flat-stem Spikerush bloom?

Summer

### Is Flat-stem Spikerush edible?

Yes

### Is Flat-stem Spikerush toxic?

None

### What is Flat-stem Spikerush's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Flat-stem Spikerush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flat-stem-spikerush)