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Key to Cyperus
2 Leaves many, cauline, coriaceous, closely spaced distally; culms arising from long, thick, branched rhizomes; inflorescence dense, capitate; [FL, beaches and coastal dunes]; [section Remirea] | |
3 Spikelets many, in densely globose to pyramidal heads, these borne on elongate rays or sessile; rhizomatous perennials, forming extensive floating mats; [section Oxycaryum] | |
4 Spikelets 1-many-flowered (if all only 1-3-flowered then subterete to quadrangular in cross-section and ellipsoid to linear); rays present or absent, inflorescence mostly not as above. | |
5 Stigmas 2; achenes laterally flattened, lenticular (to compressed-subterete), borne with an edge to the rachilla, spikelets thus laterally flattened. | |
6 Achene emarginate or obcordate at apex; rachilla deciduous, basally articulate; spikelets ovate-lanceolate, with 4-6(-8) fertile scales, these shortly but distinctly mucronate [introduction, FL]; [subgenus Queenslandiella] | |
5 Stigmas 3 (2 in subg. Juncellus species, sometimes 2 and 3 in C. alopecuroides); achenes either trigonous or dorsiventrally compressed and borne with a face to the rachilla; spikelets terete or quadrangular to strongly compressed-quadrangular or compressed-subterete. | |
7 Rachilla corky-thickened, transversely articulated at the base of each scale, the spikelets at maturity separating into 1-fruited dispersal units, each with 1 scale, the rachilla segment and wings, conspicuously clasping the achene (spikelets visibly “jointed”, at maturity breaking apart); spikelets linear, terete or scale tips slightly spreading. | |
7 Rachilla not transversely articulated; scales persistent or deciduous; rachilla wings present or absent, not corky, clasping the achene or not; spikelets ovoid to linear, compressed, quadrangular, or terete. | |
10 Spikelets in dense glomerulate heads or digitate clusters, the rachis essentially absent; spikelets strongly laterally compressed; [subgenus Pycnostachys]. | |
10 Spikelets in spikes (sometimes sessile and capitate), arranged along a well-developed rachis, this sometimes obscured but evident upon dissection; spikelets quadrangular or terete to moderately compressed. | |
11 Longest bract vertical, appearing as a continuation of the culm; rays absent, spikelets 2-7(-14), in a single digitate cluster; achenes dorsiventrally compressed, with the achene face toward the rachilla, the spikelets subterete (elliptic in cross-section) [rare waif, brackish marshes]; [subgenus Juncellus, section Laevigati] | |
11 Longest bract not appearing as a continuation of the culm; rays present or absent; inflorescence not as above (sometimes sessile and capitate, but then with 15 or more spikelets); achenes trigonous or dorsiventrally compressed; [subgenus Cyperus]. |
Key to Cyperus, Key A: Key to subgenus Lipocarpha
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1 Inflorescence terminal, the bracts 2-3, deflexed to ascending; spikes (1-) 2-5, each 2-10 (-12) mm long; achenes narrowly obovoid, 3.3-5× as long as wide; anthers ca. 0.25 mm long, or longer; [section Lipocarpha] | |
1 Inflorescence appearing lateral, the bracts 1-2 (-3), the longest held vertical and appearing as a continuation of the culm; spikes 1-2 (-3), each 1-5 (-8) mm long; achenes obovoid or ellipsoid, 1.5-2.5× as long as wide; anthers 0.1-0.2 mm long. | |
Key to Cyperus, Key B: Key to subgenus Kyllinga
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3 Central spike 8-10 mm wide, globose, solitary; inflorescence bracts deflexed to spreading (divaricate); style 0.6-1.2 mm long; anthers 2-3; scale keel entire | |
3 Central spike 3-7 mm wide, ovoid to oblong, often branched; longest inflorescence bract held vertical on most culms; style 1.8-2.2 mm long; anther 1; scale keel denticulate | |
4 Spikes whitish; plants cespitose or stoloniferous perennials; scale keels entire; achenes various. | |
Key to Cyperus, Key C: Key to subgenus Pycreus – stigmas 2; achenes lenticular;
achenes laterally flattened, borne with an edge toward the rachilla
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2 Floral scales divaricate (thus the spikelet margin appearing coarsely dentate), with whitish or hyaline margins; coarse, erect plants 30-75cm tall, inflorescence diffuse; [section Albomarginati] | |
4 Scales 1.3-2.4 mm long, 1.0-1.4 mm wide; achenes 0.8-1.2 mm long, 0.4-0.6 mm wide; [habitats various] | |
5 Shortly rhizomatous perennial, mostly > 12 cm tall; floral scales oblong, 1.8-2.4 mm long, closely imbricate; styles 0.6-1 mm; stigmas 1.4-2 mm long; anthers 0.6-0.8 mm long; achenes substipitate to cuneate, slightly compressed laterally; [widespread] | |
6 Achenes black to dark reddish brown, with encrusted transverse whitish lines, epidermal cells longitudinally elongate, rectangular; scales pale brown or yellowish, the dark achenes strongly contrasting and visible through the spikelets in life (without backlighting); fibrous-rooted annuals; [section Zonati]. | |
6 Achenes black to brownish, without transverse lines, epidermal cells square or isodiametric; plants either perennials or scales darker. | |
8 Anthers linear, 2-2.4 mm long; spikelets 3-5 mm wide, with scales (3.6-) 3.8-4.2 (-4.6) mm long; achenes black, broadly obovoid to orbiculate, 0.8-1 mm wide; [s. peninsular FL, rare waif] | |
7 Scales with anthocyanic (reddish-brown or purplish) pigmentation; fibrous-rooted annuals (except C. sanguinolentus); [section Vestiti]. | |
9 Floral scales membranous, each side with a narrowly elliptic, shallow, pale, translucent groove outlined at least marginally by reddish pigmentation; floral scales 1.8-2.7 mm long; annuals or perennials. | |
10 Rhizomatous perennials, culms usually > 25 cm tall; stamens 3; style divided less than half its length; style branches not so conspicuously exserted, exposed portions less than half as long as floral scale |
Key to Cyperus, Key D: Key to subgenus Pycnostachys -- stigmas 3; achenes trigonous; rachis essentially absent,
spikelets borne in digitate clusters or in umbellate or glomerulate heads
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2 Leaves mostly reduced to bladeless sheaths; inflorescence bracts 18-22 subequal, large and conspicuous; [the “umbrella sedge” common in the nursery trade]; [section Alternifolii] | |
2 Leaf blades present (absent in C. haspan and C. prolifer); inflorescence bracts 2-10 (rarely more, then markedly unequal). | |
3 Scales conduplicate their entire length, or broadly rounded on back, not 2-keeled as above, 5-11 nerved, medially 3-nerved, or occasionally with 2 indistinct lateral ribs and a single main keel nerve; spikelets in loose digitate clusters, or inflorescence congested into a single capitate cluster; [sections Fusci, Haspani, and Diffusi] |
Key to Cyperus, Key E: Key to subgenus Cyperus – stigmas 3; achenes trigonous; spikelets borne in spikes on a well-developed rachis;
rachilla continuous, or articulate only at the base
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1 Leaf blades absent; culms 15-50 mm thick, nearly terete; inflorescence open and diffuse, primary rays 10-30 cm long, bearing numerous 2nd and 3rd order rays up to 20 cm long and bracts to 25 cm long, often drooping; anther connectives subulate, projected beyond the anther 0.2-0.5 mm; [exotics, commonly cultivated, rarely naturalizing]; [subgenus Cyperus, section Papyrus] | |
1 Leaf blades well-developed (except C. articulatus); culms < 20mm thick, trigonous if broader than 5 mm; inflorescence smaller, more congested (except C. prolixus); anther connectives not prolonged. | |
3 Spikelets quadrangular to subterete, 1-1.5× as wide as thick; floral scales 1-8, persistent and tightly appressed (rarely slightly ascending); rachilla articulate at the base, the whole spikelet falling as a unit at maturity | |
3 Spikelets compressed-quadrangular or compressed-subterete, mostly 2× or more as wide as thick (less compressed in C. erythrorhizos and some forms of C. esculentus and C. rotundus); scales 1-many, deciduous or persistent; rachilla persistent or deciduous after the scales. | |
4 Spikes long-cylindric, with (25-) 35-80+ spikelets, and well-developed branches or 2nd order rays; scales deciduous, minute, (1.1-) 1.3-1.8 mm long, (6-) 12-20 (-30) per spikelet; spikelets quadrangular, slightly compressed (subterete in C. alopecuroides); achenes (0.4) 0.7-1 (-1.2) mm long, often moderately dorsiventrally compressed or plano-convex; plants coarse perennials, culms 5-25 dm tall, 5-50 mm in diameter (C. erythrorhizos keyed under both leads). | |
5 Stigmas 2, or 2 and 3 on a plant; spikes narrowly cylindric, the rachis obscured by the densely packed, ascending, imbricate spikelets; spikelets subterete, somewhat compressed, ovoid to oblong; rachilla wings absent to 0.1 mm wide; achene lenticular, its face against the rachilla [rare waif, FL]; [section Alopecuroides] | |
5 Stigmas 3; spikes less dense, spikelets spreading to divaricate; spikelets quadrangular, linear; rachilla winged, wings 0.3 mm wide; achenes not as above [collectively widespread]; [section Fastigiati]. | |
4 Spikes not as above; scales persistent or deciduous, mostly > 1.8 mm long (except sections Iriodei and Aristati); achenes > 1 mm long, trigonous (dorsiventrally compressed in C. nipponicus and C. serotinus); culms mostly < 10 dm tall, < 7.5 mm in diameter (except C. prolixus). | |
7 Spikelets 1.2-1.5 (-1.6)mm wide, only compressed proximally, filiform distally; adjacent scales spaced apart on the same side of the rachilla; rachilla wings absent or very reduced; [subgenus Cyperus, section Distantes] | |
8 Scales strongly 5-nerved, obovate-orbiculate, 1-1.5 mm long, divaricate, scarcely overlapping, apex emarginate and mucronulate; style < 0.1 mm long; inflorescence diffuse, secondary rays present, spikelets widely spaced on elongate rachises; [weedy exotics]; [section Iriodei] | |
8 Scales variously nerved, but at least 1.8 mm long (if shorter, with an excurved cusp > 0.5 mm long), not emarginate; style at least 0.5 mm long; inflorescence generally more congested. | |
10 Scales cuspidate to awned, midrib excurrent at least 0.3 mm, conspicuously excurved (straight in C. compressus and C. nipponicus); plants either diminutive fibrous-rooted annuals, culms often decumbent, or cespitose perennials (section Elegantes) with involute leaves and vegetative parts viscid (sticky). | |
11 Stigmas 2; achenes dorsiventrally compressed; spikelets subterete, elliptic in ×-section; [subgenus Juncellus, section Stoloniferi] | |
Key to Cyperus, Key ZA: Key to Cyperus of various affinities -- Scales cuspidate to awned
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5 Longest inflorescence bract vertical, appearing as a continuation of the culm; scales with stout, excurved, mucronate apices at most 0.3 mm long; scales with 1 central keel, bicarinate in the basal 1/3, otherwise nerveless or with 2 obscure lateral ribs; [subgenus Pycnostachys, section Luzuloidei] | |
5 Longest inflorescence bract ascending; scales with narrow, awnlike cusp (0.3-) 0.5-1 (-1.3) mm long; scales not bicarinate in the basal 1/3, conduplicate to broadly rounded, variously nerved. | |
6 Achenes trigonous to moderately dorsiventrally compressed; scales weakly to strongly 3-13-nerved; cusp to 1 mm long; stigmas 3 (2 in C. nipponicus). | |
8 Achenes broadly obovoid, sharply trigonous; spikelets strongly compressed-quadrangular; cusp 0.5-0.7 mm long, slightly excurved. [widespread]; [subgenus Cyperus, section Compressi] | |
9 Scales strongly (5-) 7-13-nerved nearly to margins; spikelets in dense ovoid spikes, rachis obscured by spikelets but well-developed; achenes 0.7-1.2 mm long, puncticulate or minutely papillose; [subgenus Cyperus, section Aristati]. | |
Key to Cyperus, Key ZB: Key to Cyperus, subgenus Pycnostachys, section Luzuloidei -- Spikelets in glomerulate heads; scales with midrib bicarinate in basal 1/3, laterally nerveless or 2-ribbed.
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2 Inflorescence broad, diffuse, primary rays 6-12, secondary and often tertiary rays present; scales oblancolate, (1.3-) 1.5-2.0 (-2.4) mm long, spikelets 2-3.2 mm wide, in hemispheric to irregularly globose clusters; achenes 1.2-1.5 mm long, at least 0.7× as long as the subtending floral scale | |
4 Scales yellowish green or straw-colored, sometimes with an orange tinge, apices incurved to straight; stems and rays scabridulous with retrorse prickles, rough to the touch (rarely with only a few prickles); spikelet clusters mostly loosely and irregularly fasciculate. | |
3 Bracts (3-) 6-12, the larger > 3 mm wide, spreading to ascending; culms coarser, 2-5 mm in diameter; plants rhizomatous or cespitose perennials. | |
8 Scales declined 60-90 degrees from the rachilla, blunt, incurved; achenes ellipsoid, < 3× as long as wide, narrowed to a distinct stipe; achene surfaces distinctly honeycomb-reticulate, often iridescent | |
8 Scales declined 30-45 (-60) degrees from the rachilla; achenes very narrowly ellipsoid, 3-4× as long as wide, stipe absent to poorly developed (ellipsoid with distinct stipe in C. eragrostis); achene surfaces dull, smooth to puncticulate or obscurely reticulate. | |
10 Culms scabrid (at least apically) with abundant retrorse prickles; plants short-lived cespitose perennials, rhizomes absent; culms mostly < 5 dm tall, bases reddish or brownish; floral scales usually diverging at least 45 degrees from the rachilla, yellowish to yellowish-green; heads mostly loosely and irregularly fasciculate, with flattened spikelets fanned out like a deck of cards |
Key to Cyperus, Key ZC: Key to Cyperus, subgenus Pycnostachys, sections Fusci, Diffusi, and Haspani -- Spikelets in digitate clusters or glomerulate heads; scales broadly rounded or conduplicate
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2 Heads very dense, spikelets 30-120 per head; scales 0.6-0.8 mm long × 0.6-0.8 mm wide, greenish; styles 0.1 mm long | |
2 Heads looser, spikelets 3-12 per head; scales 0.9-1.1 mm long × 1 mm wide, light brown, bronze, whitish, or purplish brown; styles 0.3-0.4 mm long | |
1 Scales ovate to lanceolate, (1.1-) 1.6 mm long or longer, mucronate or not; achenes, if < 1.5 mm, much exceeded by (<1/2 the length of) the scales; plants perennial, often with cormose bases, stolons, or rhizomes. | |
4 Bracts large and conspicuous, 7-11, lanceolate, 5-25 mm wide, the main veins whitish-banded adaxially; inflorescence open and diffuse, often with 2nd and 3rd order rays; [cultivated, rarely naturalizing]; [section Diffusi] | |
5 Spikelets in dense spikes, inflorescence often capitate; scales divaricate at maturity, rounded on the keel, weakly 5-13-nerved; achenes (1-) 1.4-2.5 mm long; plants mostly with hardened cormose culm bases, sometimes also rhizomatous; [dry, sandy habitats]; [subgenus Cyperus, section Laxiglumi; keyed here as failsafes]. | |
5 Spikelets in loose digitate clusters, rays elongate (except some forms of C. haspan); scales closely appressed, conduplicate and weakly 1-3 (-5)-ribbed; achenes 0.3-1 mm long; plants stoloniferous or rhizomatous; [mostly in wetlands]; [section Haspani] | |
7 Rays 5-15; anther 1-1.2 mm long; culms hard, not much flattening in pressing; [native] | |
7 Rays 200-300; anthers 0.3-0.5 mm long; culms soft, terete, flattening in pressing; [cultivated, rarely naturalizing] | |
6 Leaf blades present; bracts 3-5, well-developed and often exceeding the inflorescence; achenes 0.7-1 mm long. | |
8 Scales 2-2.5 mm long × 1.2-2 mm wide, ovate or broadly elliptic, 3-26 (-50) per spikelet, minutely mucronate, sometimes excurved; spikelets ovate to linear, straight, light brown to reddish-brown laterally with greenish midribs; plants with stolons terminated by tubers, and often proliferous spikelets | |
8 Scales 2.5-3 mm long × 1-1.8 mm wide, relatively narrowly ovate-elliptic, 20-60 per spikelet, blunt and incurved; spikelets lanceolate to linear, often contorted, pale yellowish at maturity; plants with stolons, lacking tubers or proliferous spikelets |
Key to Cyperus, Key ZD: Key to Cyperus, subgenus Cyperus -- Spikelets quadrangular to subterete; scales 1-8, persistent rachillas deciduous, articulate at the base
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1 Culms, rays, and leaves green, not papillose; leaves glabrous to scabridulous; spikes solitary or with a few reduced basal branches; spikelets various. | |
2 All but the uppermost spikelets strongly (-weakly in some forms of C. hystricinus) reflexed; scales (3.8-) 4-4.9 (-5.4) mm long, terminal involute and prolonged distally, midrib often bent downward; achenes linear to linear-oblong, (2.2-) 2.5-3 (-2.3) mm long; [section Umbellati, subsection Longistylis, C. retrofractus complex] | |
3 Spikes mostly at least 2× as long as wide, slightly (or not) narrowed to base, spikelets reflexed to spreading; culms, leaves, and bracts glabrous except for marginal prickles on leaves and bracts; rachilla wing clasping achene for its entire length (concealing it in abaxial view); floral scales golden-brown when mature | |
3 Spikes mostly about as long as wide and strongly narrowed to the base, spikelets reflexed; culms scabrous, bracts scabridulous and also often hirtellous; rachilla wing clasping achene for <3/4 its length; floral scales greenish to brown or reddish-purple-striped. | |
7 Spikelets very closely spaced, obscuring the rachis in life and when pressed; [section Umbellati, subsection Brevistylis] | |
8 Spikes broadly and appearing (because of longer spikelets) relatively loosely ellipsoid to ovoid-cylindric, 2.5-7 cm long × 1.5-6 cm wide; spikelets (11-) 12-25 (-28) mm long; achenes 2.2-3 mm long (if < 2.5 mm long, noticeably falcate). | |
11 Terminal scale of spikelet reduced, sterile, involute, with a minute but distinct mucro to 0.3 mm long, usually uncinate (hooked); fertile scales (if more than one) not overlapping on the same side of the rachilla, usually red-brown or orangeish laterally at maturity; leaf blades 1-3 mm wide; [Cyperus retroflexus complex] | |
12 Fertile floral scales 1.9-3.0 (-3.3) mm long; rachilla wing usually membranaceous throughout; rachilla lacking lateral nerves; longest spikelets 2.8-5.8 (-8.0) mm long; terminal sterile floral scale of spikelet often much reduced, less than 2/3 the length of fertile floral scales; longest peduncle less than 2.7 (-3.9) cm long; plants diminutive, culms 3-35 (-45) cm tall | |
12 Fertile floral scales (2.8-) 3.0-3.9 mm long; rachilla wing usually chartaceous beyond clasped achene angle, border membranaceous; rachilla with two lateral nerves, one along each side of the median; longest spikelets 4.9-9.0 (-11.3) mm long; terminal sterile floral scale usually not greatly reduced, 2/3 or more the length of fertile floral scales; longest peduncle (0.5-) 2.4-6.8 cm long; plants more robust, culms usually >25 cm tall | |
15 Spikes < 1.5 × as long as wide, each with (13-) 30-92 spikelets; achenes 0.5-0.7 mm wide; stems single to slightly cespitose; [Florida scrub, northward and westward in coastal dunes] | |
18 Longest spikelets usually < 10 mm long, at most somewhat flexuous with curved tips; distal scales with glabrous midrib and mucro 0.1-0.3 (-0.5) mm long; longest floral scale of spikelet (2.1-) 2.5-3.5 (-4.0) mm long; anthers 0.3-0.5 (-0.6) mm long; achenes 2-3 (-3.3)× as long as wide; [more widespread] | |
20 Spikelets ±terete; scales 4.5-5.3 mm long, persistent, laterally reddish brown or tinted with reddish brown if paler and stramineous; achenes usually at least half as long as floral scale; achenes linear-oblong, 2.6-3 mm long, 5-6× as long as wide, > 0.5 mm wide; anthers 1-1.5 mm long; spikes usually broadly and convexly ellipsoid or ovoid, usually unbranched (or rarely with 1-2 reduced proximal branches); [section Umbellati, subsection Brevistylis] | |
20 Spikelets flattened; scales 3.2-4.5 (-6) mm long, laterally golden yellow to stramineous; achenes less than half as long as floral scale; achenes oblong, (1.5-) 1.8-2.4 mm long, 3-4× as long as wide, < 0.4 mm wide; anthers 0.3-0.5 mm long; spikes usually parallel-sided, ovoid-cylindric, frequently branched; [section Strigosi] | |
22 Plants > 10 dm tall; floral scales more loosely arranged, the tips gaping distally | |
Key to Cyperus, Key ZE: Key to Cyperus, subgenus Cyperus of various affinities -- Spikelets compressed; scales deciduous or persistent; rachilla persistent or deciduous after the scales
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2 Rays absent, inflorescence a single globose spike, rachis only 1-3 mm long; scales 1.5-2.2 mm long; achenes 1-1.2 mm long, glabrous, puncticulate, or papillose; leaves and bracts 1-2.5 mm wide; culms 0.5-1 mm in diameter; [section Laxiglumi] | |
2 Rays present, inflorescence of multiple well-developed spikes, though often very congested; scales 2.5-3 mm long; achenes 1.3-2 mm long, coarsely punctate; leaves and bracts (1.5-) 3-10 mm wide; culms 0.8-2.6 mm in diameter; [section Thunbergiani] | |
1 Culms and leaves green, not glaucous; scales divaricate to closely imbricate, mostly greenish, light brown, or straw-colored (except C. rotundus and C. setigerus); [more widespread]. | |
3 Rachilla wingless (except C. prolixus and C. grayi); spikelets at maturity 2-4 mm wide, scales divaricate (the spikelet appearing coarsely serrate in outline). | |
4 Rachis hispidulous; spikes loosely oblong-ovoid, with spikelets spreading, the elongate, well-developed rachis clearly visible; scales 1.8-2 mm long, light brown to yellowish; achenes 1-1.2 mm long; [sect. Proceri] | |
5 Rays compressed; plants robust, up to 2m tall; inflorescence diffuse, 2nd-order rays present, erect, 1-10 cm long, usually bearing well-developed 3d-order rays 0.5-5 cm long; [sect. Distantes] | |
5 Rays terete to trigonous; plants mostly less robust, to 1m tall; inflorescence more compact, 2nd- and 3rd-order rays absent or poorly developed. | |
6 Plants robust, culms 40-100 cm tall, sharply trigonous, scabrid to hirtellate on the angles; spikes very densely ovoid, with 25-50+ spikelets, subtended by well-developed secondary bracts and often branched at the base; achenes 1.0-1.2 mm long, ellipsoid, <1/2 as long as the scales; [coastal prairies; LA, TX]; [sect. Thunbergiani] | |
6 Plants smaller, culms to 50 cm tall, terete to trigonous, not scabrid (except C. schweinitzii); spikes relatively loose, with 3-24 spikelets, unbranched and lacking secondary bracts; achenes 1.5-2.2 mm long, mostly ≥ 1/2 as long as the scales; [dry, sandy or rocky soils; collectively widespread]; [sect. Laxiglumi]. | |
7 Inflorescence bracts deflexed (to horizontal); spikelets in a single sessile hemispheric to globose capitate cluster, or with an additional 1-4 smaller pedunculate spikes, these densely globose with an obscure rachis < 6 mm long; [Cyperus lupulinus complex] | |
7 Inflorescence bracts horizontal to erect; spikes primarily pedunculate, loosely globose, densely ovoid, or more elongate. | |
13 Scales 1.8-4.5 (-6) mm, deciduous or persistent; spikes ovoid, with (2-) 3-50 spikelets; stoloniferous, rhizomatous, cormose-based, or (C. sphacelatus) cespitose perennials. | |
15 Scales pale yellowish to brown or deep purple, persistent or deciduous; plants with well-developed rhizomes or stolons; anthers 1-2.5 mm long, styles (0.7-) 1-3.6 mm long, stigmas (1.2-) 1.8-6 mm long; [collectively widespread]; [section Cyperus]. | |
17 Scales persistent, 1.8-3.4 mm long, mostly yellowish or dark glossy purplish; plants mostly 1-6 dm tall (rarely taller in C. esculentus), with slender stolons 1-2 mm in diameter, these producing terminal tubers; achenes ellipsoid or not maturing. | |