FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Eleocharis acicularis, Needle Spike-rush, Efjuskúfur

Eleocharis acicularis; the Needle Spike-rush is a tiny spike-rush growing on muddy soils of rivers in coastal regions and similar habitats. It is a tiny plant usually no more than 5cm tall! Like the few-flowered spike-rush (E. quiqueflora) it has few flowers. In fact, generally speaking it is even smaller. The best way to tell them apart though is the shape of the stem. In this species the stem gradually becomes square-angular, whereas in the few-flowerd spike-rush it remains perfectly round. It is a member of the sedge family (Cyperaceae). The Icelandic name of this species is Efjuskúfur.