Cyperus echinatus |
Cyperus mutisii |
|
---|---|---|
globe flatsedge, teasel sedge |
mutis' flatsedge |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial, single-stemmed to loosely cespitose. | Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous. |
Culms | basally cormlike, trigonous, (15–)30–100 cm × 0.5–3.5 mm, glabrous. |
trigonous, (20–)30–120 cm × 1.4–3.5 mm, glabrous or occasionally with scattered prickles on distal angles. |
Leaves | flat to V-shaped, 10–65 cm × 3–9 mm, adaxial surface, margins minutely scabridulous. |
2–4(–6), inversely W-shaped, 10–60(–70) cm × (2–)4–13 mm, margins and midribs scabridulous or glabrous. |
Inflorescences | 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 (1–)3–6, narrowly cylindric, 1–4(–6) cm × 5–11 mm; rays 0 or 3–6, 2–23 cm; bracts 5–8, ascending at ± 45°, inversely W-shaped, (4–) 14–40(–46) cm × 1–12 mm; rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.3–0.5 mm wide. |
Spikelets | 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. |
35–100, oblong-ellipsoid, ± terete, elliptic in cross section, 3–7 × (0.9–) 1.3–2 mm; distal spikelets spreading or ascending; floral scales persistent, 1–2(–5), appressed, becoming clear at maturity, laterally brownish to reddish brown, medially greenish, laterally 3–5-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, often erose at maturity, ovate to elliptic, 2.2–3.2 × 1.5–2.1 mm, apex obtuse. |
Flowers | anthers 0.4–0.8 mm; styles 0.5–0.6 mm; stigmas 1 mm. |
anthers 0.6–0.8 mm; styles 0.4–0.8 mm; stigmas 1.2–2.2 mm. |
Achenes | 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. |
brown to reddish brown, sessile, broadly ellipsoid, slightly dorsiventrally flattened, 1.5–1.8 × 0.7–0.9(–1) mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces papillose to puncticulate. |
Cyperus echinatus |
Cyperus mutisii |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer–early fall. | Fruiting summer–fall (Jun–Nov). |
Habitat | Disturbed, sunny sites, in mesic places, well-drained soils | Clearings in montane forests, canyons |
Elevation | 0–500 m (0–1600 ft) | 500–1500 m (1600–4900 ft) |
Distribution |
AL; AR; DC; DE; FL; GA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MD; MO; MS; NC; NJ; NY; OH; OK; PA; RI; SC; TN; TX; VA; WI; WV; West Indies
|
AZ; Mexico; Central America; South America |
Discussion | 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.) |
Cyperus mutisii is recognized by its cylindric spikes borne digitately at the ends of the rays and its short, plump spikelets. As spikelets mature, the floral scales, having erose margins contrasting with the brownish sides, beome useful distinguishing features. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 23, p. 182. | FNA vol. 23, p. 189. |
Parent taxa | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Scirpus echinatus, C. ovularis, C. ovularis var. americanus, C. ovularis var. sphaericus, C. ovularis var. wolfii, C. wolfii, Kyllinga ovularis, Mariscus ovularis | Mariscus mutisii, C. asper, C. compresso, C. ehrenbergianus, C. mutisii var. asper, C. mutisii var. contractus, C. mutisii var. semitribrachiatus, C. ochreatus, C. semitribrachiatus, Mariscus asper |
Name authority | (Linnaeus) Alph. Wood: Class-book Bot. ed. s.n.(b), 734. (1861) | (Kunth) Andersson: Galapagos Veg., 53. (1854) |
Web links |