Distribution: S.E.U.S.

Habitat: Varied freshwater sites

Recognition: Culm to 38 cm, feeble, often arching or stoloniferous.  Spikelet broader then culm. Floral scales with distinctive reddish spotting.   Achenes strongly trigonous with pronounced angles, with bristles

Eleocharis baldwinii can be viviparous too but has 2-ranked scales without red spotting.

Eleocharis nigrescens has translucent achenes with no bristles.