Culms and leaves with Kranz (chlorocyperoid) anatomy. Inflorescences: spikes; rachilla persistent, wingless or nearly so. Spikelets borne in loosely spicate to ± digitate clusters; floral scales deciduous, 2-keeled or folded. Flowers: stamens (1–)2–3; pistils 2; stigmas 2. Achenes biconvex or ± cylindric, laterally compressed, edge borne toward rachilla.

Distribution

Worldwide.

Discussion

Species ca. 100 (11 in the flora).

Laterally compressed, biconvex achenes, a feature not occurring elsewhere in the family, distinguish Cyperus subg. Pycreus. The taxon has been treated as a genus in Flora Mesoamericana (C. D. Adams 1994), an idea that may have merit.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Cyperus bipartitus, Cyperus diandrus, Cyperus filicinus, Cyperus flavescens, Cyperus flavicomus, Cyperus fugax, Cyperus lanceolatus, Cyperus melanostachyus, Cyperus polystachyos, Cyperus pumilus, Cyperus sanguinolentus