Cyperus retrorsus |
Cyperus ligularis |
|
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pine barren flatsedge |
Alabama swamp flatsedge |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial, cespitose, shortly rhizomatous. | Herbs, perennial, solitary or cespitose, rhizomatous, coarse. |
Culms | trigonous, 20–50(–85) cm × 1–2(–4) mm, glabrous. |
trigonous, (30–)60–130 cm × 1–4(–9) mm, densely papillose, otherwise glabrous. |
Leaves | 3–6(–10), 10–40(–55) cm × 1.5–4(–5) mm, V- to inversely W-shaped. |
with cross ribs prominent, V-shaped, 30–100 cm × 5–13(–20) mm, margins, keel incisive with brownish prickles, papillose throughout, margins and midribs harshly scabrid. |
Inflorescence(s) | spike 1, densely oblong-ovoid often with small basal branches, 8–16 × 4–12(–16) mm; rays 4–8(–11), 0.5–3.5(–8.5) cm; bracts (3–)4–6(–10), ascending at (30–)45°, flat to broadly V-shaped, (4–)14–30(–55) cm × 1–5 mm, scabridulous along margins only; rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.2–0.3 mm wide. |
spikes 3–7, densely oblong-cylindric to ± globose, 10–28(–35) × 8–12(–15) mm; rays 5–12, 1–16 cm, densely papillose; bracts 5–12, ascending at 30–75°, flat to V-shaped, 4–50(–90) cm × 1–15 mm; rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, (0.2–)0.3–0.5(–0.6) mm. |
Spikelets | 40–120, oblong-lanceoloid, subterete, 2.2–4(–4.5) × 0.8–1.6 mm; distal spikelet spreading or ascending; floral scales persistent, 2–5, appressed, brown to stramineous, or fuscous and lustrous, medially greenish and 1(–3)-ribbed, laterally greenish to yellowish white and 3–4-ribbed, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 1.8–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm, subcoriacous. |
20–80, oblong-ellipsoid, ± terete, slightly compressed, 3–7 × 1–2(–2.7) mm; distal spikelets spreading or ascending; floral scales (2–)4–7, appressed, clear to brownish, reddish streaked, medially green, 9–11-ribbed, ovate, (2–)2.5–3.3 × 1.2–2.3 mm, apex acute, mucronate. |
Flowers | anthers 0.3–0.5 mm; styles 0.5–0.8 mm; stigmas 0.6–0.9 mm. |
anthers 0.6–0.8 mm, styles 0.5–1 mm; stigmas 1–2.3 mm. |
Achenes | brown, oblong-ellipsoid, 1.2–1.7 × 0.5–0.6 mm, base cuneate, apex subacute, surfaces papillose. |
brown, slightly stipitate, obovoid to broadly ellipsoid, (1.2–)1.5–1.6(–1.7) × 0.6–0.8 mm, apex apiculate, surfaces puncticulate. |
Cyperus retrorsus |
Cyperus ligularis |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer (Jun–Aug). | Fruiting throughout the year. |
Habitat | Open woods and thickets in moist to dry, sandy soils | Beaches, brackish marshes, mangrove swamps, disturbed soils, ditches, riverbanks, coastal croplands |
Elevation | 0–1000 m (0–3300 ft) | 0 m (0 ft) |
Distribution |
AL; AR; DC; DE; FL; GA; LA; MD; MO; MS; NC; NJ; NY; OK; SC; TN; TX; VA; Mexico (Tamaulipas)
|
FL; Mexico; Central America; South America; w Africa
|
Discussion | Cyperus retrorsus was reported in Indiana (M. L. Horvat 1941); we have been unable to confirm the report. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
The papillose culms, rays, and leaves of Cyperus ligularis distinguish it from all other North American species of Cyperus. Reports of Cyperus ligularis from California (G. C. Tucker 1993b) were based on specimens of C. owanii. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 23, p. 187. | FNA vol. 23, p. 190. |
Parent taxa | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Mariscus cylindricus, C. cylindricus, Mariscus retrorsus | Mariscus rufus |
Name authority | Chapman: Bot. Gaz. 3: 17. (1878) | Linnaeus: Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 867. (1759) |
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