Cyperus onerosus |
|
---|---|
plains flatsedge |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous; base cormlike; rhizomes scaly, 12 cm × 2 mm. |
Culms | trigonous, 20–55 cm × 1.2–11.8 mm, glabrous. |
Leaves | V-shaped, 12–30 cm × 2–3 mm. |
Inflorescences | heads digitate, 12–20 mm diam.; rays 7–12, 1–13 cm; 2d order rays 1–3 cm (sometimes absent); bracts 3–5, longest ± erect, V-shaped, 5–12(–18) cm × 2–3 mm. |
Spikelets | (8–)20–30, linear-lanceoloid, compressed, 5–10(–14) × 1.4–1.7 mm; floral scales (8–)16–26, laterally brown to reddish brown, medially green, laterally 1-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, broadly elliptic, 2–2.5 × 1.2–1.6 mm, apex with slightly excurved cusp 0.2–0.3 mm. |
Flowers | stamens 3; anthers 1 mm, connective apex reddish, subulate, 0.1 mm; styles 1–1.5 mm; stigmas 1.5 mm. |
Achenes | white to light brown, sessile, ellipsoid, 0.7–0.8 × 0.25–0.35 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate. |
Cyperus onerosus |
|
Phenology | Fruiting early summer (May–Jun). |
Habitat | Permanent pools and wet swales between sand dunes |
Elevation | 1200 m (3900 ft) |
Distribution |
TX |
Discussion | Of conservation concern. Cyperus onerosus is apparently restricted to Andrews and Winkler counties in Texas. This interesting endemic is most similar to Cyperus dentatus; it lacks tubers and apparently is not proliferous. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 23, p. 151. |
Parent taxa | |
Sibling taxa | |
Name authority | M. C. Johnston: SouthW. Naturalist 9: 308. (1964) |
Web links |