Cyperus acuminatus

Illustrator: Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Herbs, annual, cespitose. Culms roundly trigonous, (10–)20–30(–45) cm × 0.4–1.2 mm, distal 1/2 glabrous or infrequently scabridulous. Leaves 2–6(–8), V-shaped or flat, 8–12(–16) cm × 1–2(–4) mm. Inflorescences: heads hemispheric, 7–12(–15) mm diam.; rays 1–3(–5), 0.5–2 cm; bracts 3–6, longest erect to ascending, flat to V-shaped, (1.5–)3–12(–25) cm × 1–2.5(–3.5) mm. Spikelets (15–)25–50(–75), ovoid, compressed, 4–7 × 2–3 mm; floral scales 8–20(–35), laterally yellowish, yellowish green, or light reddish brown, medially light brown or greenish brown, 2-keeled, subtly 1-ribbed, ovate-lanceolate, 1–2 × 1–1.4 mm, apex acute, mucronate, straight to excurved, glabrous or sparsely scabridulous. Flowers: stamen 1; anthers 0.5 mm; styles 0.8–1.1 mm; stigmas 0.5 mm. Achenes brown, stipitate, broadly ellipsoid, abruptly contracted to base, 0.8–1.1 × 0.3–0.4 mm, stipe 0.1 mm, apex acute, tapering to slender beak formed of persistent style base, surfaces papillose.

Phenology: Fruiting summer–fall (Jul–Oct).
Habitat: Wet, often sandy shores and damp, disturbed soils
Elevation: 0–1500 m

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Mich., Minn., Mo., Mont., Nebr., N.H. (introduced?), N.Y. (introduced?), N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa. (introduced?), S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Va., Wash., Wyo., Mexico (Coahuila, Tamaulipas).

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.