Contains 17 genera and 286 accepted taxa overall.
This family is completely databased for all specimens.
Characteristics
CYPERACEAE
Monocot
-
Classification
POALES
CYPERACEAE
Genera
| Genus | Common Name | Taxa Count | Herbarium Specimens | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abildgaardia | FLATSPIKE SEDGE | 1 | ||
| Bolboschoenus | 1 | |||
| Bulbostylis | HAIRSEDGE | 5 | ||
| Carex | SEDGE | 78 | ||
| Cladium | SWAMP SAWGRASS | 2 | ||
| Cyperus | FLATSEDGE | 67 | ||
| Dulichium | THREEWAY SEDGE | 1 | ||
| Eleocharis | SPIKERUSH | 33 | ||
| Fimbristylis | FIMBRY | 9 | ||
| Fuirena | UMBRELLASEDGE | 6 | ||
| Isolepis | BULRUSH | 1 | ||
| Rhynchospora | BEAKSEDGE | 56 | ||
| Schoenoplectiella | 1 | |||
| Schoenoplectus | NAKED-STEMMED BULRUSH | 7 | ||
| Schoenus | BOGRUSH | 1 | ||
| Scirpus | BULRUSH | 4 | ||
| Scleria | NUTRUSH | 13 |
Identification Key
1. Pistillate flowers and achenes partially to completely enclosed in an usually inflated sac (perigynium), open at the apex where the stigma or style protrudes; flowers unisexual, with the male flowers typically apical and female flowers basal
1. Flowers and achenes not enclosed in a sac-like structure; flowers bisexual or unisexual (Scleria)
2
2. Spikelet scales distichous
3
2. Spikelet scales spirally arranged
8
3. Perianth bristles present, subtending achene
4
3. Perianth bristles absent
6
4. Leaf blades absent
4. Leaf blades present
5
5. Leaves cauline; inflorescences axillary, numerous
5. Leaves basal or nearly so; inflorescences terminal, solitary
6. Achene generally yellow, brown, to black
6. Achene white or grayish-white, sometimes with darkened areas
7
7. Inflorescence a solitary spikelet, the scales and florets densely congested
7. Inflorescence of 1-several spikelets, the scales and florets adjacent, but generally individually apparent and spaced
8. Achene with a persistent, apical tubercle or swollen style base
9
8. Achene lacking an apical tubercle or swollen style base
11
9. Leaf blades absent or to 4 mm long and scale-like; culm with 1 spikelet
9. Leaf blades present, >4 mm long; culm with 2 or more spikelets
10
10. Leaf sheath fimbriate-ciliate; style 3-fid; achene trigonous, the tubercle usually <½ as wide as achene
10. Leaf sheath glabrous; style usually 2-fid; achene usually biconvex, the tubercle usually >½ as wide as achene
11. Inflorescence bract 1 (rarely 2), erect, confluent with the culm, the inflorescence appearing lateral; perianth bristles present or absent
12
11. Inflorescence bract 1-8, spreading to erect, not confluent or only 1 bract confluent with the culm and perianth bristles absent, the inflorescence generally appearing terminal
14
12. Plant rhizomatous, usually >40 cm tall; culms usually >2 mm wide; perianth bristles present
12. Plant cespitose or nearly so, usually <40 cm tall; culms 0.2-1.2 mm wide; perianth absent
13
13. Spikelets 1(3), scales gibbous; style 3-fid
13. Spikelets (1)2-6(10), scales not gibbous; style usually 2-fid
14. Plant 0.5-3 m tall, rhizomatous, rhizomes 2.5-13 mm wide, 5-20 cm long, culms 4-10 mm wide
15
14. Plant 0.2-1.5(2) m tall, cespitose or if rhizomatous, rhizomes <2.5 mm wide or <5 cm long, culms 0.1-5 mm wide
16
15. Rhizomes with few, non-overlapping scales; leaves unarmed, not prickly; spikelets 10-30 mm long, 6-10 mm wide
15. Rhizomes densely scaly-imbricate; leaves armed, copiously prickly; spikelets 2-3 mm long, 1-2 mm wide
16. Spikelet scales usually recurved or spreading; inner whorl of perianth bristles with a claw and expanded blade
16. Spikelet scales recurved to appressed; perianth bristles lacking or these without expanded blades
17
17. Perianth bristles (0)3-6
17. Perianth absent, or of 1-2 scales or bractlets
18
18. Spikelets few to numerous, often sessile or nearly so (those with spirally arranged scales); style smooth
18. Spikelets numerous and usually some pedunculate or spikelet solitary, the spikelet mostly ovate to lanceolate; style fimbriate, papillate, ciliiolate, toothed, to smooth