Piedmont Flatsedge

Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous. Culms single or close together, trigonous, (10–)40–80(–120) cm × 1.2–2.5(–5) mm, glabrous. Leaves 2–5, pleated, (10–)20–50(–90) cm × 2–5(–10) mm. Inflorescences: spikes 1–4(–7), loose, broadly ovoid to ovoid-pyramidal, 25–35 × 25–35 mm; rays (4–)5–6(–8), (1–)3–8(–16) cm, glabrous; 2d order rays (0–)1–5, 5–15(–50) mm; bracts 4–7, ascending at 30–45°, pleated, (5–)20–40(–60) × (2–)3–8(–11) mm; 2d order bracts 1–4 per ray, 5–10(–30) × 0.5–1 mm, scabridulous; rachilla persistent, wingless (or very narrowly winged, not clasping achene). Spikelets (10–)20–35(–45), seemingly flattened proximally from spreading floral scales, becoming terete apically, linear, (10–)13–18(–25) × 1.2–1.5(–1.6) mm; floral scales deciduous, (10–)12–20(–25), laterally light reddish brown to dark red, medially greenish, laterally ribless, medially 3–5-ribbed, oblong-ovate, 1.7–2(–2.4) × 0.9–1.2 mm, apex obtuse, barely reaching next scale, apex entire, emarginate, mucro at most 0.3 mm. Flowers: anthers 0.4–0.5 mm; styles 0.3–0.6 mm; stigmas 1–1.8(–2) mm. Achenes dark brown, narrowly oblong, (1.3–)1.4–1.6(–1.7) × (0.3–)0.4–0.5 mm, base cuneate to ± stipelike, apex acute, not apiculate, surfaces papillose.

Tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres.

Fla., N.C.; Mexico; West Indies (Dominican Republic south through the Lesser Antilles); South America; Asia; Africa.

600-1100 m

Fruiting summer.

Marshes; 0m.

Cyperus elatus Rottbøll, Descr. Icon. Rar. Pl., 37, plate 10. 1773, not Linnaeus 1756

Cyperus distans, also known as slender cyperus, is a species of sedge native to tropical and subtropical wetlands in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia (India, Indochina, China, Indonesia, Philippines, etc.), Madagascar, New Guinea, Australia, Latin America (from Mexico to Argentina), the West Indies, the southeastern United States (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina) and various oceanic islands.