Cyperus mutisii |
|
---|---|
mutis' flatsedge |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous. |
Culms | trigonous, (20–)30–120 cm × 1.4–3.5 mm, glabrous or occasionally with scattered prickles on distal angles. |
Leaves | 2–4(–6), inversely W-shaped, 10–60(–70) cm × (2–)4–13 mm, margins and midribs scabridulous or glabrous. |
Inflorescences | spikes (1–)3–6, narrowly cylindric, 1–4(–6) cm × 5–11 mm; rays 0 or 3–6, 2–23 cm; bracts 5–8, ascending at ± 45°, inversely W-shaped, (4–) 14–40(–46) cm × 1–12 mm; rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.3–0.5 mm wide. |
Spikelets | 35–100, oblong-ellipsoid, ± terete, elliptic in cross section, 3–7 × (0.9–) 1.3–2 mm; distal spikelets spreading or ascending; floral scales persistent, 1–2(–5), appressed, becoming clear at maturity, laterally brownish to reddish brown, medially greenish, laterally 3–5-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, often erose at maturity, ovate to elliptic, 2.2–3.2 × 1.5–2.1 mm, apex obtuse. |
Flowers | anthers 0.6–0.8 mm; styles 0.4–0.8 mm; stigmas 1.2–2.2 mm. |
Achenes | brown to reddish brown, sessile, broadly ellipsoid, slightly dorsiventrally flattened, 1.5–1.8 × 0.7–0.9(–1) mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces papillose to puncticulate. |
Cyperus mutisii |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer–fall (Jun–Nov). |
Habitat | Clearings in montane forests, canyons |
Elevation | 500–1500 m (1600–4900 ft) |
Distribution |
AZ; Mexico; Central America; South America |
Discussion | Cyperus mutisii is recognized by its cylindric spikes borne digitately at the ends of the rays and its short, plump spikelets. As spikelets mature, the floral scales, having erose margins contrasting with the brownish sides, beome useful distinguishing features. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 23, p. 189. |
Parent taxa | |
Sibling taxa | |
Synonyms | Mariscus mutisii, C. asper, C. compresso, C. ehrenbergianus, C. mutisii var. asper, C. mutisii var. contractus, C. mutisii var. semitribrachiatus, C. ochreatus, C. semitribrachiatus, Mariscus asper |
Name authority | (Kunth) Andersson: Galapagos Veg., 53. (1854) |
Web links |