Cyperus hermaphroditus |
Cyperus tetragonus |
|
---|---|---|
hermaphrodite flatsedge |
fourangle flatsedge |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous. | Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous. |
Culms | trigonous, (10–)30–80(–140) cm × (0.4–)1–3(–5) mm, glabrous. |
trigonous, (20–) 30–80 cm × 1–2.5 mm, glabrous or occasionally with scattered prickles on distal angles. |
Leaves | V-shaped or flanged V-shaped, (5–)15–70(–90) cm × (2–)4–10(–13) mm, glabrous. |
9–11, flat to slightly V-shaped, 25–80 cm × 3.5–10 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 (1–)3–6, loosely cylindric or oblong with parallel sides, 1.5–4 cm × 10–17 mm; rays 6–12, 2–25 cm, glabrous or rarely scabridulous proximal to spikes; bracts 6–11, ascending at 45°, flat, (1–)10–20(–26) cm × 1–10 mm; rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 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. |
10–60, narrowly ellipsoid, quadrangular, 5–8 × 1.5–2 mm; floral scales persistent, (2–)3–7, appressed, clear at maturity, laterally reddish to purplish brown, medially greenish, often erose at maturity, laterally 3–5-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, ovate-elliptic, 2.5–3.2 × 1.8–2.1 mm, apex obtuse. |
Flowers | anthers (0.4–)0.6–1 mm; styles 0.4–1.6 mm; stigmas 1–1.5 mm. |
anthers 0.8–1 mm; styles 0.3–0.5 mm; stigmas 2–2.5 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 to reddish brown, sessile, oblong-ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, slightly dorsiventrally flattened, 1.8–2 × 0.7–0.8 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces papillose to puncticulate. |
Cyperus hermaphroditus |
Cyperus tetragonus |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer–fall. | Fruiting summer–fall (Jun–Nov). |
Habitat | Arroyos | Open woods, thickets, barrier islands |
Elevation | 500–1200 m (1600–3900 ft) | 0–1000 m (0–3300 ft) |
Distribution |
AZ; TX; Mexico; South America; West Indies |
AL; AZ; FL; GA; MS; NC; NM
|
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 status of Cyperus pringlei from the southwestern United States requires further study. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 23, p. 186. | FNA vol. 23, p. 189. |
Parent taxa | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Carex hermaphrodita, Mariscus hermaphroditus, Mariscus jacquinii | C. pringlei, C. tetragonus var. pringlei, Mariscus tetragonus |
Name authority | (Jacquin) Standley: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 18: 88. (1916) | Elliott: Sketch Bot. S. Carolina 1: 71. (1821) |
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