Cyperus echinatus
Cyperus lupulinus
globe flatsedge, teasel sedge
Great Plains flatsedge, slender sand sedge
basally cormlike, trigonous, (15–)30–100 cm × 0.5–3.5 mm, glabrous.
trigonous, (3–)10–50 cm × 0.4–1.2 mm, glabrous.
flat to V-shaped, 10–65 cm × 3–9 mm, adaxial surface, margins minutely scabridulous.
flat, 5–40 cm × 1–3.5 mm.
spikes densely globose to globose-ovoid, 8–17 mm wide;
rays 3–12, 2–12 cm, scaberous adaxially especially distally;
rachis 4–8 mm;
bracts (3–)4–7, ascending at 30(–45)°, flat, 5–35 cm × 2–9 mm;
rachilla persistent, wings 0.5–0.7 mm wide.
spikes rather densely ovoid to globose, 1.2–3.5 cm;
rays 0 or 1–4, 1–6 cm;
rachis 1–3.5 mm;
bracts 2–4, horizontal to reflexed, flat, 6–25 cm;
rachilla ± deciduous, wingless.
50–100, oblong-lanceoloid, ± terete-quadrangular, (3.5–)4–7 × 1–1.4 mm;
distal spikelet spreading or ascending;
floral scales persistent, 3–5, appressed, stramineous to brownish, 4-ribbed laterally, oblong-elliptic, 3.5–4.5 × 1–1.8 mm, membranous, apex entire or emarginate with mucro to 0.3 mm.
15–60, compressed, oblong-lanceoloid, (3–)6–22 × 2.5–4 mm;
floral scales deciduous, 5–22, off-white to light reddish brown, laterally 3–5-ribbed, ovate-elliptic, 2.5–4 × 2–2.6 mm, margins loosely spreading or clasping achene, apex entire to mucronate, mucro 0.05–0.2 mm.
anthers 0.4–0.8 mm;
styles 0.5–0.6 mm;
stigmas 1 mm.
anthers 0.3–0.6 mm;
styles 1 mm;
stigmas 1–1.5 mm.
brown, ± stipitate, oblong, (1.5–)1.8–2.3 × 0.5–0.6(–0.7) mm (1/2 length of floral scales), apex obtuse, surfaces puncticulate.
dark brown or black, sessile, oblong-ellipsoid to ellipsoid, 1.7–2.2 × 0.8–1.2 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.
= 166.
Cyperus echinatus
Cyperus lupulinus
The records for Rhode Island and Wisconsin are according to M. L. Horvat (1941); we have not seen specimens from those states.
Cyperus echinatus is usually recognized by its tight, nearly spheric spikes; it may occasionally be hard to distinguish from C. croceus and C. retrorsus. Compared to C. retrorsus, C. echinatus has larger spikelets and longer floral scales, anthers, and achenes. In contrast to C. echinatus, C. croceus has looser spikes, shorter, broader, greenish or yellowish floral scales, shorter, more ovoid achenes, and shorter anthers. Furthermore, C. echinatus is predominantly an inland species of roadsides, pastures, and other disturbed ground; C. retrorsus is primarily a coastal species and occurs in drier, sandier sites.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora).
Cyperus lupulinus was studied in detail (B. G. Marcks 1974). Ranges of the two subspecies overlap somewhat. Cyperus lupulinus subsp. lupulinus is found chiefly in the Great Plains, and subsp. macilentus is centered in the Northeast. It is seldom difficult to assign specimens to subspecies.
The hybrid of Cyperus lupulinus with C. schweinitzii is C. ×mesochorus Geise. It is occasionally encountered with the two parent species in the north-central states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) and has been recorded once from Quebec. The hybrid is similar in size to C. schweinitzii; it has fewer rays, inflorescence bracts 30–45º above horizontal, and floral scales with mucros 0.4–0.5 mm.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Floral scales 2.5–4 mm, margins not clasping achene; spikelets with 5–22 floral scales. | subsp. lupulinus |
1. Floral scales 1.8–2.5 mm, margins tightly clasping achene; spikelets with 3–7 floral scales. | subsp. macilentus |
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