Cyperus floribundus
Rhodora 99: 330. 1998.
Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous. Culms trigonous, basally tuberous thickened, 15–40 cm × 1–2.5 mm, glabrous. Leaves flat to V-shaped, 10–30 cm × 1–2 mm. Inflorescences: spike 1, densely oblong to ellipsoid, 8–36 × 8–20 mm; rays 4–12, 10–20 cm; bracts 3–6, horizontal to ascending at 30°, V-shaped, 3–15 cm × (3–) 4–5.8 mm; rachilla deciduous, wings 0.5–0.7 mm wide. Spikelets (5–) 20–35 (–60), linear to oblong, quadrangular; 4–12 (–21) × 0.7–1.2 mm, base narrowed to 0.4–1 mm; floral scales persistent, 1–3 (–5), appressed, laterally whitish to reddish-brown, stramineous with reddish spots, medially green, laterally 3–6-ribbed (midrib distinctly scabrid at 30X), narrowly oblong to ovate, 2.6–4.8 × 1.6–2 mm; apex rounded to ± acute, entire, with mucro 0.3–0.5 mm; sterile terminal scale involute, 0.4–0.6 mm wide, uncinate; distal floral scales with cusp 0.6–1.9. Flowers: anthers 0.5–1.3 mm; styles 0.4–0.5 mm; stigmas 0.5–0.9 mm. Achenes light-brown to reddish-brown, sessile to slightly stipitate, narrowly ellipsoid, 1.8–2.4 × 0.6–0.8 mm, apex slightly apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.
Phenology: Fruiting mid summer–early fall (Jul–Sep).
Habitat: Damp, disturbed soils, croplands
Elevation: 0–1000 m
Discussion
Included previously in Cyperus retroflexus (or its synonym C. uniflorus), C. floribundus has a much narrower geographic range (southern Texas and northeastern Mexico) and differs in features of spikelet morphology (J. R. Carter and S. D. Jones 1997).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
"shortened" is not a number.