Distribution: Widespread in the Northern Hemisphere; found throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Habitat: Marshes and other wet places, from sea level to moderate elevagtions in the mountains.
Flowers: June - September
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Annual
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Tufted annual, the culms 0.5-5 dm. tall, ribbed, 0.5-2 mm. thick.
Leaves all basal and reduced to sheaths.
Spikelets ovoid, 5-13 mm. long, many-flowered; scales of the spikelets spirally arranged, 1.7-2.5 mm. long, purplish or brownish with greenish mid-stripe and paler margins, the lowest one empty; perianth of 6-7 brownish bristles, equaling the achene or wanting; stigmas 2 or sometimes 3.
Achenes lenticular, 1-1.5 mm. long, straw-colored to dark brown, smooth and shining.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Eleocharis ovata in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Eleocharis ovata checklist entry.
E-Flora BC: Eleocharis ovata atlas page.
CalPhotos: Eleocharis ovata photos.
USDA Plants: Eleocharis ovata information.