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Eleocharis nitida

Fern.

Slender Spikerush

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.133188
Element CodePMCYP09180
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusEleocharis
Other Common Names
Éléocharide brillante (FR) Quill Spikerush (EN) quill spikerush (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-14
Change Date2025-07-14
Edition Date2025-07-14
Edition AuthorsInformation from M. Oldham (2007), rev. Johnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Eleocharis nitida is found in the northern United States and southern Canada in the east from Minnesota and western Ontario to Maine and Newfoundland, and in the west from Washington to British Columbia, southern Alaska, and Saskatchewan. With a broad range, a large number of occurrences, a preference for widespread habitats, and tolerance for disturbance, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Eleocharis nitida is found in the northern United States and southern Canada in the east from Minnesota and western Ontario to Maine and Newfoundland, and in the west from Washington to British Columbia and southern Alaska in a fairly narrow latitudinal band between 40° and 60° North (Arctos 2025, CPNWH 2025, FNA 2002, GBIF 2025). There is a single record in Saskatchewan from 1973 and the species may be ephemeral here in a disturbed area (NatureServe 2025). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are between 80 and 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Eleocharis nitida may be threatened by road and pipeline construction and other human activities, but this species readily colonizes disturbed areas within the appropriate habitat. It has been documented often near the edges of roads and logging trails, railroad grades, ditches, excavated ponds, and construction areas (NatureServe 2025).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Eleocharis nitida grows in bog pools, wet peaty or sandy soil and shallow water along streams and near disturbed areas (Hulten 1968, Coffin and Pfannmuller 1988, FNA 2002).
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDBog/fenRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN3
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS3Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS1Yes
QuebecS2Yes
Prince Edward IslandS1Yes
OntarioS2Yes
LabradorSUYes
Nova ScotiaS3Yes
SaskatchewanS3Yes
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
MaineSUYes
AlaskaS1Yes
MinnesotaS3Yes
New HampshireSHYes
WisconsinS2Yes
WashingtonSNRYes
MichiganS1Yes
VermontSHYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
4 - Transportation & service corridorsRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
4.2 - Utility & service linesSmall (1-10%)UnknownModerate (short-term)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Minnesota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Phantom LakeSuperior National Forest6,521
References (10)
  1. Arctos. 2025. Museum collections and observations. https://arctos.database.museum/search.cfm.
  2. Coffin, B., and L. Pfannmuller, editors. 1988. Minnesota's endangered flora and fauna. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 473 pp.
  3. Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria (CPNWH). 2025. Online database of vascular plant specimens from the Pacific Northwest. Online. Available: http://www.pnwherbaria.org/index.php (accessed 2025).
  4. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 23. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 608 pp.
  5. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  6. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  7. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  8. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  9. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  10. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).