Cyperus hermaphroditus |
Cyperus sphacelatus |
|
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hermaphrodite flatsedge |
roadside flatsedge |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous. | Herbs, annual or perennial, cespitose. |
Culms | trigonous, (10–)30–80(–140) cm × (0.4–)1–3(–5) mm, glabrous. |
trigonous, 15–60 cm × 1–3 mm, glabrous. |
Leaves | V-shaped or flanged V-shaped, (5–)15–70(–90) cm × (2–)4–10(–13) mm, glabrous. |
2–6, flat to V-shaped, 6–30(–40) 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 broadly ellipsoid, 5–45 × 10–30(–45) mm; rays (2–)5–9, (0.3–)3–10 cm; rachis 4–17 mm; bracts 5–6, horizontal to ascending, V-shaped, 1.5–30 cm × 0.5–4 mm; rachilla persistent, wings hyaline, 0.4–0.5 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. |
5–30, pale greenish white or stramineous, compressed, linear-lanceoloid, 7–35 × (1.2–)1.4–2 mm; floral scales deciduous, 6–34, spreading or appressed, laterally greenish white, often reddish or brown speckled, medially green, laterally 3–5-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, elliptic, (2.2–)3–4(–4.4) × (1.2–)1.8–2.2 mm, apex acute. |
Flowers | anthers (0.4–)0.6–1 mm; styles 0.4–1.6 mm; stigmas 1–1.5 mm. |
anthers 0.6 mm; styles 0.6–1.2 mm; stigmas 1–1.4(–1.7) 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. |
reddish brown to dark brown, stipitate, narrowly ellipsoid, 1.4–2 × 0.6–0.9 mm, apex apiculate, surfaces puncticulate. |
Cyperus hermaphroditus |
Cyperus sphacelatus |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer–fall. | Fruiting summer. |
Habitat | Arroyos | Disturbed, wet soils |
Elevation | 500–1200 m (1600–3900 ft) | 0 m (0 ft) |
Distribution |
AZ; TX; Mexico; South America; West Indies |
FL; Central America; South America; West Indies; Africa [Introduced in North America] |
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. 170. |
Parent taxa | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Carex hermaphrodita, Mariscus hermaphroditus, Mariscus jacquinii | C. balbisii |
Name authority | (Jacquin) Standley: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 18: 88. (1916) | Rottbøll: Descr. Pl. Rar., 21. (1772) |
Web links |