Cyperus distans
Suppl. Pl., 103. 1782.
Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous. Culms single or close together, trigonous, (10–) 40–80 (–120) cm × 1.2–2.5 (–5) mm, glabrous. Leaves 2–5, pleated, (10–) 20–50 (–90) cm × 2–5 (–10) mm. Inflorescences: spikes 1–4 (–7), loose, broadly ovoid to ovoid-pyramidal, 25–35 × 25–35 mm; rays (4–) 5–6 (–8), (1–) 3–8 (–16) cm, glabrous; 2d order rays (0–) 1–5, 5–15 (–50) mm; bracts 4–7, ascending at 30–45°, pleated, (5–) 20–40 (–60) × (2–) 3–8 (–11) mm; 2d order bracts 1–4 per ray, 5–10 (–30) × 0.5–1 mm, scabridulous; rachilla persistent, wingless (or very narrowly winged, not clasping achene). Spikelets (10–) 20–35 (–45), seemingly flattened proximally from spreading floral scales, becoming terete apically, linear, (10–) 13–18 (–25) × 1.2–1.5 (–1.6) mm; floral scales deciduous, (10–) 12–20 (–25), laterally light reddish-brown to dark red, medially greenish, laterally ribless, medially 3–5-ribbed, oblongovate, 1.7–2 (–2.4) × 0.9–1.2 mm, apex obtuse, barely reaching next scale, apex entire, emarginate, mucro at most 0.3 mm. Flowers: anthers 0.4–0.5 mm; styles 0.3–0.6 mm; stigmas 1–1.8 (–2) mm. Achenes dark-brown, narrowly oblong, (1.3–) 1.4–1.6 (–1.7) × (0.3–) 0.4–0.5 mm, base cuneate to ± stipelike, apex acute, not apiculate, surfaces papillose.
Phenology: Fruiting summer.
Habitat: Marshes
Elevation: 0 m
Distribution
Fla., N.C., Mexico, West Indies (Dominican Republic south through the Lesser Antilles), South America, Asia, Africa
Discussion
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
"shortened" is not a number.