Cyperus rotundus |
Cyperus filicinus |
|
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chaguan humatag, coco-grass, nutgrass, pakopako, purple nut-sedge |
fern flatsedge |
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Habit | Herbs, perennial, stoloniferous; stolons (2–)5–12 cm × 1–2 mm, bearing tubers 3–8(–12) mm diam., wiry, springy when dried, indurate. | Herbs, annual, cespitose. |
Culms | trigonous, 10–35(–40) cm × 0.7–3.4 mm, basally indurate, glabrous. |
trigonous, 5–50 cm × 0.4–2 mm, glabrous. |
Leaves | V-shaped to flanged V-shaped, 5–30 cm × 2–6 mm. |
flat, 10–30 cm × 1–3 mm. |
Inflorescences | spikes 1(–3), broadly ellipsoid, (12–)15–25(–30) × (12–)20–30(–50) mm, rays (3–)4–6(–7), 0.2–10 cm;, bracts (2–)3–5, horizontal to ascending at 45°, V-shaped to flanged V-shaped, 0.5–10 cm × 0.5–4 mm, rachilla persistent, wings 0.5–1 mm wide. |
heads loosely globose, 10–22 mm diam.; rays 0–6, 1–7 cm; bracts 3–6, horizontal to slightly ascending, flat, 3–26 cm × 1–3 mm. |
Spikelets | (2–)3–7(–12), compressed, linear, 4–40 × 1.3–1.8 mm, floral scales persistent, 6–36(–42), spreading or appressed, purple to reddish brown, with narrow clear border and green midrib, 7–9-ribbed, ovate, (1.8–)2.6–3.4 × 2.2–3 mm, apex obtuse. |
6–20, linear-lanceoloid, compressed, 7–30 × 2–3 mm; floral scales 8–28, stramineous to light reddish brown, laterally ribless, ovate, 2.7–3.6 × 1.6–1.8 mm. |
Flowers | anthers 1–2.5 mm, styles 1.3–3.5 mm, stigmas (1.8–)2–3.3 mm. |
stamens 2; anthers 0.5 mm, connective apex reddish, subulate, 0.1–0.2 mm; styles 1.9–2.1 mm; stigmas 1–1.3 mm. |
Achenes | black, sessile, ellipsoid, abaxial face convex, adaxial face concave, 1.4–1.7(–1.9) × 0.8–1 mm, apex obtuse, surfaces puncticulate. |
brown, oblong, 1.2–1.6 × 0.6–0.9 mm, base cuneate to ± stipelike, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces minutely punctate. |
Cyperus rotundus |
Cyperus filicinus |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer–fall. | Fruiting summer. |
Habitat | Croplands, disturbed soils usually | Swales between dunes, upper edges of tidal marshes, occasionally emergent shorelines, roadsides, inland ditches |
Elevation | 0–400 m (0–1300 ft) | 0(–50) m (0(–200) ft) |
Distribution |
AL; AR; AZ; CA; FL; GA; LA; MO; MS; NC; NM; SC; TN; TX; VA; Mexico; Central America; South America; Asia; Africa; Australia
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CT; GA; IL; LA; MA; ME; NC; NH; NJ; NY; RI; SC; VA
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Discussion | Cyperus rotundus is documented in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania; there is no evidence of persistent populations. Cyperus esculentus and C. rotundus are the only two species of subg. Cyperus in the New World that produce tuberiferous stolons. The two species also have persistent floral scales and persistent rachillas, a combination of characteristics not found in any other New World species of Cyperus. Cyperus rotundus is distinguished from other species of the genus in the New World by its open spikes composed of linear reddish spikelets borne on a conspicuous slender rachis. Cyperus rotundus is usually acknowledged to be the world’s worst weed (cf. G. C. Tucker 1987). In the United States, it does not grow north of the mean 1°C January isotherm. Cyperus esculentus (preceding species) is a serious weed in much of the world, especially in cooler regions where the more tropical C. rotundus does not grow. Cyperus esculentus is able to tolerate lower air temperatures (as low as -18°C). The two species apparently differ also in their thermal optima for growth. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
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Source | FNA vol. 23, p. 169. | FNA vol. 23, p. 160. |
Parent taxa | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Cyperus | Cyperaceae > Cyperus > subg. Pycreus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | C. polystachyos var. macrostachyos | |
Name authority | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 45. (1753) | Vahl: Enum. Pl. 2: 332. (1805) |
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