Cyperus hermaphroditus |
Cyperus ovatus |
|
---|---|---|
hermaphrodite flatsedge |
ovateleaf flatsedge |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous. | Herbs, perennial, cespitose, (15–)30–100 cm. |
Culms | trigonous, (10–)30–80(–140) cm × (0.4–)1–3(–5) mm, glabrous. |
not basally cormlike, trigonous, (15–)30–100 cm × 1–3 mm, glabrous. |
Leaves | V-shaped or flanged V-shaped, (5–)15–70(–90) cm × (2–)4–10(–13) mm, glabrous. |
V-shaped, 10–65 cm × 2–4 mm. |
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 densely ovoid to cylindric, 8–17 mm wide; rays 1–6, 2–10 cm, glabrous; rachis 4–8 mm; bracts 3–9, ± horizontal, flat, 4–20 cm × 2–4 mm; rachilla persistent, wings deciduous, 0.2(–0.3) mm wide. |
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. |
30–80, oblong-lanceoloid, ± terete-quadrangular, 4–7 × 1.5–2 mm; distal spikelet spreading or ascending; floral scales persistent, 4–6, appressed, stramineous, laterally 3-ribbed, oblong-elliptic, 1.9–2.6 × 1.1–1.5 mm. |
Flowers | anthers (0.4–)0.6–1 mm; styles 0.4–1.6 mm; stigmas 1–1.5 mm. |
anthers 0.3–0.5 mm; styles 0.5 mm; stigmas 1–2 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, ± stipitate, oblong-fusiform, 1.2–1.5 × 0.4–0.6 mm, apex ± acute, surfaces puncticulate. |
Cyperus hermaphroditus |
Cyperus ovatus |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer–fall. | Fruiting spring–summer. |
Habitat | Arroyos | Sandy soils of beaches, coastal woods |
Elevation | 500–1200 m (1600–3900 ft) | 0–100 m (0–300 ft) |
Distribution |
AZ; TX; Mexico; South America; West Indies |
AL; FL; GA; MS; NC; SC
|
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.) |
|
Source | FNA vol. 23, p. 186. | FNA vol. 23, p. 183. |
Parent taxa | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Carex hermaphrodita, Mariscus hermaphroditus, Mariscus jacquinii | C. cylindricus, C. deeringianus, C. litoreus, C. pollardii, C. retrorsus var. curtisii, C. retrorsus var. deeringianus, C. winkleri, Mariscus curtisii, Mariscus litoreus |
Name authority | (Jacquin) Standley: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 18: 88. (1916) | Baldwin: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 2: 168. (1825) |
Web links |