Cyperus prolifer
in J. Lamarck and J. Poiret, Tabl. Encycl. 1: 147. 1791.
Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous. Culms trigonous to terete, 20–100 cm × 2–6 mm, soft (flattened in drying), glabrous, often flopping over and rooting at base of rays. Leaves: blades reduced to sheath. Inflorescences: rays 100–250, 5–16 cm; 2d order rays 0.5–5 cm; bracts 2–3, horizontal or reflexed, 4–12 cm × 1.5–4 mm. Spikelets 1–30, linear-lanceoloid, ellipsoid to narrowly ovoid, compressed-quadrangular, 6–17 × 1–1.5 mm; floral scales 5–12, reddish-brown, 1–3-ribbed, 1.2–1.7 × 0.7–0.9 mm, apex mucronulate. Flowers: stamens 3; anthers 1–1.2 mm; styles 0.3 mm; stigmas 1–1.3 mm. Achenes brown, obovoid, 0.4 × 0.2 mm, base stipelike to nearly cuneate, apex obtuse, surfaces finely reticulate.
Phenology: Fruiting summer.
Habitat: Pond shores, marshes
Elevation: 0–200 m
Distribution
Introduced; Calif., Fla., tropical e Africa
Discussion
Cyperus prolifer has long been cultivated in fish ponds and water gardens and has been reported under the name C. isocladus.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
"shortened" is not a number.