Several species of Fimbristylis occur in Arkansas. Several are weedy and / or wetland species. These taxa are best recognized by viewing pictures of them on the internet, learning what they look like superficially, and being able to recognize the that way rather than using formal keys. That is, these species are much easier to just learn visually than to formally dig into the tiny parts and figure them out.
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Taxonomy of species marked with an asterisk * matches the "Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Arkansas" (Gentry, et al. 2006).
(Green text designates species recognized in the above cited checklist.
Blue text designates "possible additions" to the flora of Arkansas, not currently represented by specimens.
Red text designates excluded species, perhaps attributed to but not expected in Arkansas by this author.*Fimbristylis annua (All.) Roem. & Schult. in Roem. et al.
A tiny to small common spring species with pointed spikelets.
*Fimbristylis autumnalis (L.) Roem. & Schult. in Roem. et al.
A small common fall species with pointed spikelets.
*Fimbristylis miliacea (L.) Vahl
A common fall blooming species with more rounded spikelets, once learned it is easily recognized on sight.
*Fimbristylis puberula (Michx.) Vahl var. puberula
A larger common fall species with pointed spikelets.
*Fimbristylis tomentosa Vahl
Need to find Arkansas info!
*Fimbristylis vahlii (Lam.) Link
This is a very easy species to recognize unless you're a botanist. That is, it is much easier to deal with by learning to recognize it on sight rather than trying to key out the minute parts using a micrscope. It grows in dense clumps, sometimes in sandy soil and often in alluvium, in Arkansas. I find it along streams and in roadside ditches in high numbers in disturbed sites like the Red River floodplain in Miller County. Once recognized it is difficult to mis-identify. Unrecognized it is a real pain to key out! The reason? Many collectors get it immature and end up trying to look at minute plant parts that are too undeveloped to understand.
*Fuirena breviseta (Coville) Coville
*Fuirena bushii Kral
*Fuirena pumila (Torr.)Spreng.
*Fuirena scirpoidea Michx.
*Fuirena simplex Vahl var. aristulata (Torr.) Kral
*Fuirena simplex Vahl var. simplex
*Fuirena squarrosa Michx.
*Isolepis carinata Hook. & Arn. ex Torr.
*Isolepis pseudosetacea (Daveau) Gand.
*Kyllinga gracillima Miq.
*Kyllinga odorata Vahl
*Kyllinga pumila Michx.
*Lipocarpha drummondii (Nees) G. C. Tucker
*Lipocarpha micrantha (Nees) G. C. Tucker
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