Cyperus iria

Illustrator: Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Herbs, annual, cespitose. Culms trigonous, (5–)20–60 cm × (0.2–) 0.6–2.4 mm, glabrous. Leaves (1–)3–4, V-shaped, 15–40 cm × 3–6 mm. Inflorescences: spikes 2–5(–8), oblong to ovoid, 2–10 cm × 3–12 mm; rays 4–8, to 11 cm; bracts (4–)5(–7), ascending at 45°, V-shaped, (1.5–)8–30(–50) cm × 1–6 mm; rachilla persistent, wingless (successive floral scales 0.7–0.9 mm apart). Spikelets 10–30, compressed, linear to ellipsoid, 4–20 × 1.5–2.1 mm; floral scales deciduous, (2–)6–26, laterally brown to golden brown, edges clear, medially green, 5-ribbed, outermost ribs more noticeable than others, obovate to nearly orbiculate, 1.3–1.8 × 1.2–1.8 mm, margins emarginate, apex with mucro 0.05–0.12 mm. Flowers: stamens 2(–3); anthers (0.2–)0.3–0.4 mm, connective tips reddish, less than 0.1 mm; styles less than 0.1 mm; stigmas 0.2–0.4 mm. Achenes brown, slightly stipitate, obovoid, 1.2–1.4 × 0.5–0.7 mm, apex apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.

Phenology: Fruiting summer–fall (Jul–Oct).
Habitat: Damp to moderately dry, disturbed soils
Elevation: 0–500 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Ala., Ark., Calif., Conn., Fla., Ga., Ill., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.Y., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va., Mexico, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia.

Discussion

Cyperus iria was first recorded in the New World from the southeastern United States in the 1840s.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.