Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains
Fimbristylis Vahl
Grasslike annuals and perennials; culms tufted or solitary, slender. Leaves mainly basal, narrowly linear, flat to involute, with or without a ligule of short hairs. Inflorescence a terminal umbel or cyme of spikelets, with 1 or 2 spikelets sessile, subtended by an involucre of 2 or 3 short, leaflike bracts; spikelets several to many, ovoid to oblong-lanceolate, many-flowered; scales spirally arranged and imbricate in the spikelets, all floriferous. Flowers perfect; perianth lacking; stamens (1)2-3; styles bifid or trifid, swollen at the base above the attachment to the achene, readily deciduous. Achenes lenticular or trigonous, obovoid, smooth to reticulate.
Reference:
Kral, R. 1971. A treatment of Abildgaardia, Bulbostylis and
Fimbristylis (Cyperaceae) for North America. Sida 4:57-227.
| Lead | Characteristic | Go To |
| 1 | Achenes trigonous; styles trifid; plants annual. | F. autumnalis |
| 1 | Achenes lenticular; styles bifid; plants perennial. | F. puberula |
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