Eleocharis keigheryi  |  

Keighery’s Eleocharis is a rhizomatous, tufted/clumped perennial herb, reaching a maximum diameter of 40 cm. It has erect, smooth, green stems that are 20-40 cm tall and hollow, supporting cross bars that are 2 mm in diameter. When this species grows in water, there are numerous hair-like sterile stems at the base of the main stems. The leaves are reduced to a straw-coloured sheath at the base. Inflorescences are 4-6 mm long and 1-2 mm wide, colourless or very pale green and occur at the end of the branches. The narrow, cylindrical flower-spike is slightly broader than the stems with spirally arranged, oblong to narrow ovate bracts. Flowers consist of three stamens and a feathery stigma that divides into three.