Cyperus polystachyos |
Cyperus dentoniae |
|
---|---|---|
many-spike flatsedge |
Denton's flatsedge, hairy flatsedge |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial (annual?), cespitose. | Herbs, perennial, cespitose, shortly rhizomatous. |
Culms | trigonous or ± terete, (3–)20–45(–70) cm × (0.8–) 1.2–2 mm, glabrous. |
1–4, trigonous, (2–)20–50(–80) cm × (0.8–)1.5–2(–2.8) mm, basally glabrous or nearly so, apically hispidulous, on faces and angles distally, especially so immediately proximal to bracts. |
Leaves | (2–) 6–10(–16), flat to V-shaped, (2–) 10–30(–60) cm × 1–4 mm. |
2–5(–7), V-shaped, (5–)15–30(–45) cm × (1.5–)2.5–5(–8) mm. |
Inflorescences | spike 1, loosely ovoid to densely turbinate, 12–40 × 10–25 mm; rachis 3–10 mm; rays 1–8(–12), 0.5–3(–6) cm; 2d order rays absent; if rays absent, inflorescence single dense cluster of spikelets, 12–40 mm diam.; bracts (3–)4–6(–7), horizontal to ascending at 45°, flanged V-shaped, (2–)5–15(–23) cm × 1–4 mm. |
spike 1 (occasionally 1–2 smaller sessile spikes at base), densely cylindric, (7–)11–20(–25) × (5–) 7–10(–12) mm; rays 3–6(–10), (1–)3–6(–18) cm, rays and rachis hispidulous; bracts 4–8(–10), ascending at 30–60°, V-shaped, (2–)10–25(–45) cm × (1–)3–6(–8) mm; rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.3–0.4 mm wide. |
Spikelets | (5–)15–30(–40), spreading to appressed-ascending, linear-lanceoloid to linear, compressed, 8–18(–40) × (1–)1.3–1.6(–2) mm; floral scales (8–)12–25(–66), laterally stramineous to light brown, medially green, laterally ribless, medially 3–5-ribbed, oblong, (1.5–)1.8–2.4 × (1–)1.2–1.4 mm, apex acute to ± acute, mucronate. |
(20–)70–120(–140), oblong-ellipsoid to oblong-lanceoloid, ± terete to quadrangular, (2.2–)3.4–4.5(–5.6) × (0.8–)0.9–1.2(–1.3) mm; distal spikelet spreading or ascending; floral scales 1(–3), appressed, stramineous, red-spotted, strongly 3(–4)-ribbed on either side of green part, medially weakly 3-ribbed, ovate to elliptic ovate, (2.4–)2.8–3.3(–3.6) × 1.6–2 mm, apex acute, mucronulate from excurrent midrib. |
Flowers | stamens 2; anthers (0.4–)0.5–0.8 mm, connective not prolonged; styles 0.6–1(–1.4) mm; stigmas (1–)1.4–2 mm. |
anthers (0.3–)0.4–0.6 mm; styles 0.4–0.6(–0.8) mm; stigmas 1–1.4 mm. |
Achenes | light to dark brown, oblong, (0.8–)0.9–1.1(–1.2) × 0.4–0.5(–0.6) mm, base cuneate to ± stipelike, apex truncate, apiculate, surfaces punctate to minutely punctate with raised cells. |
brown, stipitate, ellipsoid, (1.6–)1.8–2 × (0.7–) 0.8–0.9 mm, stipe 0.1–0.2 × 0.2 mm, apex ± truncate, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate to glabrous. |
Cyperus polystachyos |
Cyperus dentoniae |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer–early fall. | Fruiting mid summer–fall (Jul–Sep). |
Habitat | Shores, ditches, swales between dunes | Various dry, open environments |
Elevation | 0–200 m (0–700 ft) | 500–1000 m (1600–3300 ft) |
Distribution |
AL; DC; DE; FL; GA; KY; LA; MA; MD; ME; MS; NC; NJ; NY; OK; PA; SC; TX; VA; WV; Mexico; Central America; South America; Asia; Africa
|
AZ; Mexico; Central America; South America |
Discussion | Cyperus polystachyos is polymorphic. Adequate understanding of the infraspecific variations of C. polystachyos requires a worldwide examination, which is beyond the scope of this study. The segregates, C. fugax and C. filicinus, are recognized here; they have been usually accepted by recent workers (e.g., M. L. Fernald 1950; H. A. Gleason and A. Cronquist 1991). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Cyperus dentoniae was not treated in G. Kükenthal’s monograph (1935–1936), apparently because he did not see any materials of the species. The plant has been treated as “C. asper (Liebmann) O’Neill,” a name based on Mariscus asper Liebmann and a synonym of C. mutisii (A. B. Ayers 1946). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 23, p. 160. | FNA vol. 23, p. 187. |
Parent taxa | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Pycreus | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | C. brizaeus, C. polystachyos var. leptostachyus, Pycreus polystachyos | Mariscus pubescens, C. flavomariscus var. peduncularis, C. flavus var. peduncularis |
Name authority | Rottbøll: Descr. Pl. Rar., 21. (1772) | G. C. Tucker: Syst. Bot. Monogr. 2: 56. (1983) |
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