Cyperus granitophilus

Illustrator: Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Herbs, annual, cespitose, with roots fibrous. Culms trigonous, glabrous. Leaves V-shaped to flat, (2–)4–11 cm × 3–4 mm. Inflorescences: rays absent; bracts 2–4, ± horizontal, flat, 1–6.5 cm × 2–3 mm; rachilla persistent, wingless. Spikelets 10–40, compressed, ovoid to linear-lanceoloid, quadrangular, 5–9 × 2–3 mm; floral scales deciduous, 5–20, spreading, pale greenish to reddish brown, laterally (5–)7–9(–13)-ribbed, ovate, 3–4 × 1–2 mm, apex straight, excurved mucronate, or cuspidate. Flowers: stamens 1–2; filaments 1.5 mm; anthers 0.8–1 mm, connective apex reddish yellow, less than 0.1 mm; styles 0.8–1 mm; stigmas 1–1.2 mm. Achenes brown to reddish brown, broadly ellipsoid to obovoid, 0.8–1.2 × 0.5–0.6 mm, base ± cuneate, apex truncate-obtuse, surfaces puncticulate.

Phenology: Fruiting summer.
Habitat: Thin soil over outcrops of granite or sandstone of the Piedmont and inner coastal plain
Elevation: 50–400 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ala., Ga., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va.

Discussion

Cyperus granitophilus is documented as an autotetraploid derivative of C. squarrosus (L. W. Garoni and W. H. Murdy 1964).

Selected References

Garoni, L. W. and W. H. Murdy. 1964. Systematic relationship of the granite outcrop endemic C. granitophilus McVaugh to C. inflexus Muhl. A. S. B. Bull. 11: 43.

Lower Taxa

None.