Cyperus giganteus |
Cyperus filiformis |
|
---|---|---|
giant flatsedge, Mexican papyrus |
wiry flatsedge |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous, stout. | Herbs, perennial. |
Culms | roundly trigonous, 200–350 cm × 15–50 mm, glabrous. |
trigonous, 20–36 cm × 0.5–1 mm. |
Leaves | bladeless. |
flat, 4–22 cm × 1–2 mm. |
Inflorescence(s) | spikes loosely cylindric, 15–40 × 8–16 mm; rays 5–8, ascending to erect, stiff,20–30 cm; 2d order rays 5–15 cm; bracts 10–12, ascending at 30–60°, flat, (8–) 20–45 cm × 4–12 mm; 2d order bracts (5–)15–25 cm × 1.5–5 mm; rachilla persistent, separating laterally, remaining firmly attached basally, wings 0.3–0.4 mm wide. |
a single loose cluster of spikelets; rays 0–(1–2), if present, to 4 cm; bracts 2–3, ascending, 1–8 cm × 0.7–1 mm; rachilla with wings 0.6 mm wide. |
Spikelets | (15–)50–80, slightly compressed, linear, ± quadrangular, 5–12 × 0.6–1.4 mm; floral scales 8–20, appressed, reddish beside 5-ribbed green medial part, white to hyaline near margins, ovate, 1.8–2.2 × 1.2–1.5 mm, apex acute to obtuse. |
2–8, linear, terete, 6–20 × 0.7–1 mm; floral scales 6–10, medially green, laterally brown, medially faintly 3-ribbed, laterally faintly 3–5-ribbed, ovate, 2.5–3 × 2 mm. |
Flowers | anthers 0.7–1 mm (connective prolonged beyond anther as red subulate appendage 0.2–0.5 mm, its apex sometimes setose); styles 0.2–0.5 mm; stigmas (0.8–)1.2–1.8 mm. |
anthers 1 mm; styles 0.5 mm; stigmas 1 mm. |
Achenes | pale brown, sessile, oblong, 0.9–1 × 0.4–0.5 mm, apex scarcely apiculate, surfaces puncticulate. |
black, sessile, obovoid, 2 × 0.8 mm, apex scarcely apiculate, surfaces puncticulate. |
Cyperus giganteus |
Cyperus filiformis |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer. | Fruiting spring–fall. |
Habitat | Stream banks, marshes | Damp, disturbed places |
Elevation | 0–10 m (0–0 ft) | 0–20 m (0–100 ft) |
Distribution |
LA; TX; Mexico; Central America; South America; West Indies [Introduced in North America] |
FL; West Indies |
Discussion | Cyperus giganteus was erroneously reported from Florida, a misidentification of C. papyrus (R. R. Haynes and A. Lasseigne 1969). Recently, some nurseries specializing in water plants have begun to offer C. giganteus under the name “Mexican papyrus.” Escaped cultivated plants may be expected in southeastern and southwestern United States. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
|
Source | FNA vol. 23, p. 173. | FNA vol. 23. |
Parent taxa | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Diclidium |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | C. floridanus, Mariscus filiforme, Mariscus floridensis, Torulinium filiforme | |
Name authority | Vahl: Enum. Pl. 2: 364. (1805) | Swartz: Prodr., 20. (1788) |
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