Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center


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Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains

62. Cyperaceae, the Sedge Family

3. Cyperus L. -- Galingale, umbrella sedge

2. Cyperus aristatus Rottb. -- Awned cyperus

Low tufted annual with aromatic foliage, often stunted; culms slender, (2)3-15 cm tall. Leaves to as long as the culms or longer, 0.5-2 mm wide; involucral bracts similar to the leaves but often somewhat broader, the principal 2 or 3 surpassing the inflorescence. Spikelets overlapping in 1-3(4) dense hemispheric to globose spikes, the spikes generally less than 1 cm long, one spike sessile and others, if present, borne on rays to 3 cm long; spikelets 3-7 mm long; scales 1.5-2 mm long including the outwardly curved awn 0.5-1 mm long, pale, turning brown at maturity, conspicuously (5)7- to 9-nerved; rachilla persistent, the scales falling from it at maturity; stamen solitary; styles trifid. Achenes pale brown, trigonous, 0.6-1 mm long, 1/3 to 1/2 as wide. Late Jul--Sep. Same habitats as the preceding, but more widespread; frequent; (Nearly cosmopolitan). C. inflexus Muhl.

Map key

Previous Section -- Cyperus acuminatus Torr. & Hook.
Return to Family -- Cyperaceae - The Sedge Family
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