Cyperus hermaphroditus |
Cyperus planifolius |
|
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hermaphrodite flatsedge |
flatleaf flatsedge |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous. | |
Culms | trigonous, (10–)30–80(–140) cm × (0.4–)1–3(–5) mm, glabrous. |
trigonous, 25–50(–80) cm × 0.8–2.6 mm, glabrous. |
Leaves | V-shaped or flanged V-shaped, (5–)15–70(–90) cm × (2–)4–10(–13) mm, glabrous. |
flat to V-shaped, 30–80 cm × 3–10 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 ovoid, 1.5–3 × 1.5–3 cm; rays 4–7, 1–10 cm; 2d order rays occasionally present, 0.5–2 cm, rays often not elongate, inflorescence then capitate, 2–5 cm diam.; bracts 4–8, horizontal to ascending at 30°, flat to V-shaped, longest 6–35 cm × (1.5–)4–8 mm; rachilla persistent, wings 0.4–0.6 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. |
(10–)20–60, reddish brown, flattened elliptic in cross section, linear-lanceoloid, 6–22 cm × (1–)2–3(–4) mm; floral scales deciduous, 6–16, medially greenish, laterally reddish brown to brown, medially 3–5-ribbed, laterally 3–5-ribbed, ovate-lanceolate to ± orbiculate, 2.5–3 × 1.4–1.8 mm, apex acute to obtuse and mucronulate. |
Flowers | anthers (0.4–)0.6–1 mm; styles 0.4–1.6 mm; stigmas 1–1.5 mm. |
anthers 0.7–1.8 mm; styles (0.3–)1.2–2.8 cm; 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. |
brownish to black, stipitate or sessile, ellipsoid to obovoid or oblong, 1.3–2 × 0.75–1(–1.1) mm, apex obtuse, apiculate or not, surfaces coarsely punctate. |
Herb | , perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous. |
|
Cyperus hermaphroditus |
Cyperus planifolius |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer–fall. | Fruiting throughout the year. |
Habitat | Arroyos | Coral sand beaches, coastal rock outcrops |
Elevation | 500–1200 m (1600–3900 ft) | 0–10 m (0–0 ft) |
Distribution |
AZ; TX; Mexico; South America; West Indies |
FL; GA; Mexico; West Indies; Central America (Belize, Honduras) |
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. 172. |
Parent taxa | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Carex hermaphrodita, Mariscus hermaphroditus, Mariscus jacquinii | C. brizaeus, C. brunneus, C. purpurascens |
Name authority | (Jacquin) Standley: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 18: 88. (1916) | Richard: Actes Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris 1: 106. (1792) |
Web links |