Cyperus compressus

Illustrator: Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Herbs, annual, cespitose with fibrous roots. Culms trigonous, (2–)6–15(–35) cm × (0.3–)1–1.8 mm, glabrous. Leaves 1–5, flat to V-shaped, (1–)5–15(–22) cm × (0.5–)1.5–3 mm. Inflorescences: spikes ± digitate, ± globose, 7–40 × 10–20 mm; rays (0–)1–6, 2–12 cm; if absent, inflorescence a sessile cluster of (1–)3–10 spikelets; rachis 2–5 mm; bracts (1–)4–5(–6), ascending, V-shaped, 1–15(–20) cm × 0.5–3.5 mm; rachilla persistent, wingless. Spikelets (1–)3–12(–16), greenish white, linear to linear-lanceoloid, compressed-quadrangular, 6–34(–40) × 2–3(–3.6) mm; floral scales deciduous, (8–)16–36(–42), spreading, laterally whitish, greenish, or pale brownish, medially green, weakly 7–9-ribbed, laterally weakly 1–2-ribbed, most ribs medial, ovate, (2.4–)2.6–3 × (1.9–)2–2.4(–2.5) mm, apex acute to ± acute, cuspidate tip (0.3–)0.5–0.7(–0.8) mm. Flowers: anthers 0.6–0.7 mm; styles 0.9–1.3 mm; stigmas 0.5–0.8 mm. Achenes brown, stipitate to sessile, obovoid, (1–)1.2–1.4(–1.5) × 0.9–1(–1.1) mm, apex obtuse to emarginate, surfaces very finely puncticulate.

Phenology: Fruiting summer–early fall.
Habitat: Various disturbed soils
Elevation: 0–900 m

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tex., Va., Mexico, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.