Cyperus distinctus
Syn. Pl. Glumac. 2: 24. 1855.
Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous. Culms terete, 40–60 (–90) cm, glabrous. Leaves flat, 35–70 cm × 4–9 (–12) mm. Inflorescences: heads hemispheric, 10–20 mm diam.; rays 5–9 (–14), 3.5–10 cm; 2d order rays 0.5–2 cm; bracts 5–10, ± horizontal, flat, 12–40 (–50) cm × 2–7 mm. Spikelets (25–) 35–50 (–60), ovoid, compressed, (3.5–) 5–12 (–14) × 2.5–3.5 (–4) mm; floral scales 10–32, golden brown to brown, 2-keeled, laterally ribless, narrowly lanceolate, 2–2.2 (–3) × 0.8–1.4 mm. Flowers: stamen 1; anthers 1 mm; styles 1 mm; stigmas 0.5 mm. Achenes brown, stipitate, narrowly ellipsoid, 1.5–2 × 0.2–0.4 mm, base swollen, spongy, stipe 0.2 × 0.2–0.3 mm, apex acute, beak slender, 0.2 mm, surfaces puncticulate.
Phenology: Fruiting summer.
Habitat: Damp grasslands, roadsides, ditches
Elevation: 0–50 m
Distribution
Fla., Ga., La., S.C., West Indies (Bahamas)
Discussion
The slender achenes with conspicuously swollen bases distinguish Cyperus distinctus from other species of subg. Pycnostachys.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
"shortened" is not a number.