needle beakrush, Rhychospora capillacea

These needle rush in where most plants fear to tread. These little pioneers deserve our respect, but most of us won't see them. They pop up in places where clay or limestone are exposed, thriving in extreme basic conditions with few companions. The ones shown grow in the one spot in the fen at Ives Preserve where clay is exposed. It's a spring that constantly oozes to the surface, depositing lime material as it goes. This is also a hot spot for insectivorous plants such as sundew. Needle spikerush grows in AR, CT(E), IA(T), IL, IN, MA(E), ME(T), MI, MN(T), MO, ND, NH(E), NJ(E), NY, OH, OK, PA(E), RI, SD, TN(X), TX, VA, VT(T), WI, AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC(L), SK(T), and on SPM. Ives Preserve, Lenawee Co MI, 7/25/15.