Cyperus hermaphroditus |
Cyperus ligularis |
|
---|---|---|
hermaphrodite flatsedge |
Alabama swamp flatsedge |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous. | Herbs, perennial, solitary or cespitose, rhizomatous, coarse. |
Culms | trigonous, (10–)30–80(–140) cm × (0.4–)1–3(–5) mm, glabrous. |
trigonous, (30–)60–130 cm × 1–4(–9) mm, densely papillose, otherwise glabrous. |
Leaves | V-shaped or flanged V-shaped, (5–)15–70(–90) cm × (2–)4–10(–13) mm, glabrous. |
with cross ribs prominent, V-shaped, 30–100 cm × 5–13(–20) mm, margins, keel incisive with brownish prickles, papillose throughout, margins and midribs harshly scabrid. |
Inflorescences | spikes 1(–5), rather densely ovoid or oblong-cylindric, (10–)25–45(–62) × 7–22 mm, 11–21 spikelets per 5 mm of rachis; rays (3–)5–10(–17), (1–)5–12(–24) cm; bracts (2–)4–8, ascending at 30–45°, V- or inversely W-shaped, (2–)8–40(–65) cm × (1–)2–8 mm; rachilla deciduous, wings 0.4–0.5 mm wide. |
spikes 3–7, densely oblong-cylindric to ± globose, 10–28(–35) × 8–12(–15) mm; rays 5–12, 1–16 cm, densely papillose; bracts 5–12, ascending at 30–75°, flat to V-shaped, 4–50(–90) cm × 1–15 mm; rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, (0.2–)0.3–0.5(–0.6) mm. |
Spikelets | (10–)50–150, oblong to linear, quadrangular, (3–)4–8(–18) × (0.8–)1–1.2(–1.6) mm; distal spikelet spreading or ascending; floral scales (1–) 3–8, pale greenish white to golden brown, deep brown, or reddish brown, medially usually green, weakly to strongly 3(–4)-ribbed laterally, 1–3-ribbed medially, ovate to elliptic, (2–)2.6–3.2(–4) × 1.2–2 mm, apex obtuse. |
20–80, oblong-ellipsoid, ± terete, slightly compressed, 3–7 × 1–2(–2.7) mm; distal spikelets spreading or ascending; floral scales (2–)4–7, appressed, clear to brownish, reddish streaked, medially green, 9–11-ribbed, ovate, (2–)2.5–3.3 × 1.2–2.3 mm, apex acute, mucronate. |
Flowers | anthers (0.4–)0.6–1 mm; styles 0.4–1.6 mm; stigmas 1–1.5 mm. |
anthers 0.6–0.8 mm, styles 0.5–1 mm; stigmas 1–2.3 mm. |
Achenes | brown or reddish brown, sessile or nearly so, ellipsoid, 1.4–1.8(–2) × 0.6–0.8(–1) mm, apex acute to obtuse, slightly apiculate, surfaces puncticulate. |
brown, slightly stipitate, obovoid to broadly ellipsoid, (1.2–)1.5–1.6(–1.7) × 0.6–0.8 mm, apex apiculate, surfaces puncticulate. |
Cyperus hermaphroditus |
Cyperus ligularis |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer–fall. | Fruiting throughout the year. |
Habitat | Arroyos | Beaches, brackish marshes, mangrove swamps, disturbed soils, ditches, riverbanks, coastal croplands |
Elevation | 500–1200 m (1600–3900 ft) | 0 m (0 ft) |
Distribution |
AZ; TX; Mexico; South America; West Indies |
FL; Mexico; Central America; South America; w Africa
|
Discussion | An erroneous report of Cyperus hermaphroditus from Alabama was based on misidentification of C. thyrsiflorus. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
The papillose culms, rays, and leaves of Cyperus ligularis distinguish it from all other North American species of Cyperus. Reports of Cyperus ligularis from California (G. C. Tucker 1993b) were based on specimens of C. owanii. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 23, p. 186. | FNA vol. 23, p. 190. |
Parent taxa | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Carex hermaphrodita, Mariscus hermaphroditus, Mariscus jacquinii | Mariscus rufus |
Name authority | (Jacquin) Standley: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 18: 88. (1916) | Linnaeus: Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 867. (1759) |
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