Cyperus elegans Linnaeus. Common name: Royal Flatsedge, Sticky Flatsedge. Phenology: Jul-Nov. Habitat: Ditches, wet open areas, coastal rock barrens. Distribution: FL, AL, MS, TX, and NM, south to South America; West Indies.
ID notes: The combination of involute leaves, viscid surfaces, and excurrent-mucronate scale apices is sufficient to distinguish C. elegans from all other Cyperus except C. oxylepis. In the field, the dark, broadly obovoid achenes of C. elegans are conspicuous, visible through the pale olivaceous scales as circular blackish spots.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Bah, ETx1, FNA23, K4, Mex, NcTx, NS, WH3; > Cyperus elegans ssp. elegans — POWO; > Cyperus elegans L. var. elegans — Tx. Basionym: Cyperus elegans L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Cyperus elegans - FNA23
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Great Plains: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something wrong or missing on about Cyperus elegans? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months. If a species is not keyed, that's because keying is ongoing. Please don't send us feedback about unkeyed species.
Horticultural Information
Intro:
Stems:
Leaves:
Inforescence:
Flowers:
Fruits:
Comments:
Height:
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description:
stems:
leaves:
inflorescence:
flowers:
fruits:
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
0 unsaved edits on this page.