A genus of sedge plants with distinctive needle-like leaves, commonly found in wetlands and used in aquariums and water gardens.
From Greek 'elaion' (oil) and 'kharis' (grace), literally 'oil-grace,' though the reference to oil in the name is unclear. The plant is scientifically named Eleocharis and includes many species used in wetland restoration.
Eleocharis is one of those scientific names that sounds magical but probably just describes what ancient naturalists noticed about the plant—and it turns out these humble marsh plants are heroes of wetland ecosystems!
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