Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 972 (1753).

Derivation: Latin name of some kind of rush.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Sedges.

Description:
Perennials with grass-like leaves usually at the base of the stem, leaf-like to glume-like bracts and usually a creeping rootstock, inhabiting moist places.

Flowers unisexual, in unisexual or androgynous usually cylindrical spikes, which are terminal or also distant along the stems; glumes spirally imbricate in several rows; ovary enclosed in a membranous or corky sack or utricle from which the 2- or 3-fid style emerges; stamens usually 3; nut compressed or trigonous, enclosed in the persistent utricle.

Distribution:  Over 1,500 species from all parts of the world. (Key mainly from Willis (1970) A handbook to plants in Victoria).

Biology: No text

Key to Species:

1. Spikes sessile, short and broad; terminal spike bisexual
2. Spikes 20 or more in a long narrow panicle
3. Stems solid, triangular, scabrous	C. appressa 1.
3. Stems hollow, cylindrical, smooth	C. tereticaulis 13.
2. Spikes fewer than 10, usually almost capitate
4. Bract of lowermost spike leaf-like and usually at least twice the length of the whole inflorescence
5. Glumes dull, pallid or greenish	C. inversa 10.
5. Glumes shining, chestnut-brown	C hebes 9.
4. Bract or lowermost spikes glume-like and usually shorter than the whole inflorescence
6. Utricle with serrulate margins; spikes green or pale-brown	C. chlorantha 4.
6. Utricle with smooth margins; spikes bright-brown	C. divisa 5.
1. Spikes stalked, elongate; terminal spike male
7. Stigmas 2	C. gaudichaudiana 7.
7. Stigmas 3
8. Spikes in fascicles of 1-5 at each node; upper part of utricle conspicuously setulose	C. iynx 11.
8. Spikes solitary at the nodes; upper part of utricle smooth on the margins
9. Leaves septate-nodulose, 5-10 mm broad	C fascicularis 6.
9. Leaves not septate-nodulose, rarely as broad as 6 mm
10. Utricle pubescent	C. breviculmis 3.
10. Utricle glabrous, sometimes scabrous near the tip
11. Utricle thin, membranous	C. gunniana 8.
11. Utricle thick, corky, obscurely angled
12. Spikes 4-7, the male ones 1-4	C. pumila 12.
12. Spikes 9-23, the male ones 6-20	C. bichenoviana 2.

Author: Not yet available