Flora of North America species comparison

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Kyllinga

greenhead sedge, spikesedge
Habit Herbs, annual or perennial, cespitose or not, rhizomatous or not.
Culms

solitary or not, trigonous.
Leaves

basal;

ligules absent;

blades flat or V-shaped in cross section.
Inflorescences

terminal, rarely pseudolateral, spikes 1–4, sessile, densely ovoid or cylindric;

spikelets [15–]40–150 per spike, not readily distinguished by unaided eye;

involucral bracts 2–4, spreading or erect, leaflike.
Spikelets

scales 2(–3), distichous;

proximal scale subtending bisexual flower;

distal scale empty or subtending 1–2 stamens, often abortive.
Flowers

bisexual or staminate;

perianth absent;

stamens 1–3;

styles linear, 2-fid, base persistent.
Achenes

biconvex, laterally compressed.

Kyllinga
Distribution
from USDA
Mostly tropical or warm-temperate regions worldwide
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Species 40–45 (5 in the flora).

Tropical Africa contains the greatest diversity of Kyllinga species.

The genus is closely related to Cyperus and has been treated as a subgenus.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key
1. Midvein of floral scales winged, laciniate; anthers 2 mm.
K. squamulata
1. Midvein of floral scales not winged, ciliate or glabrous; anthers less than 2 mm.
→ 2
2. Plants widely creeping, rhizomatous.
→ 3
2. Plants densely cespitose, rhizomatous or not.
→ 4
3. Longest bract erect; style 0.6–1.2 mm.
K. brevifolia
3. Longest bract horizontal to slightly reflexed; style 1.8–2.2 mm.
K. gracillima
4. Plants perennial; spikes whitish; achenes with whitish stipitate base.
K. odorata
4. Plants annual; spikes pale greenish; achenes light brown.
K. pumila
Source FNA vol. 23, p. 193. Author: Gordon C. Tucker.
Parent taxa Cyperaceae
Subordinate taxa
K. brevifolia, K. gracillima, K. odorata, K. pumila, K. squamulata
Synonyms Cyperus subg. K.
Name authority Rottbøll: Descr. Icon. Rar. Pl., 12, plate 4, fig. 3. (1773)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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