Cyperus ochraceus
Enum. Pl. 2: 325. 1805.
Herbs, perennial, cespitose; rhizomes oblique. Culms roundly trigonous, 20–50 (–80) cm × 1–3 mm, glabrous. Leaves 3–11, V-shaped, 12–40 cm. Inflorescences: heads loosely to rather densely hemispheric, 15–30 mm diam.; rays 5–10, 2–12 cm; 2d order rays occasionally produced, 5–25 mm; bracts 4–8, approximately horizontal to ascending at 30°, V-shaped, 10–36 cm × 1.5–4 mm, margins glabrous. Spikelets (4–) 10–30, greenish, grayish, or stramineous, oblong to linearoblong, compressed, (5–) 7–10 (–35) × 2–3 mm; floral scales 10–25 (–85), laterally yellowish-brown, medially yellowish or brownish, laterally ribless, medially 2-ribbed with groove between ribs, broadly ovate (widest in proximal 1/2), (1.2–) 1.5–2 × 1.2–2 mm, apex obtuse (declined (45–) 60–90º from rachilla). Flowers: stamen 1; anthers oblong, 0.8–1.2 mm, connective not prolonged; styles basally thickened, confluent with summit of achene, 0.6–1.2 mm; stigmas 0.3–0.6 mm. Achenes reddish-brown to dark purplish brown, dull or more often iridescent, stipitate, broadly ellipsoid, 1–1.5 mm × 0.4–0.6 (–0.7) mm, base cuneate to ± attenuate, stipe 0.1–0.2 mm, apex acute, beak 0.1–0.5 mm, surfaces reticulate with network of low ridges.
Phenology: Fruiting summer.
Habitat: Damp, disturbed soils, ditches, marshes
Elevation: 0–200 m
Distribution
Fla., Ga., La., Miss., Pa., Tex., Mexico, Central America, South America
Discussion
In Pennsylvania, Cyperus ochraceus has been recorded in areas where ballast has been discarded.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
"shortened" is not a number.