Family: Cyperaceae
Cyperus difformis
Citation:
L., Cent. 2. Pl. 6 (1756).
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: Variable flat-sedge, dirty Dora.
Description:
Green annual, to c. 30 cm high, with solitary or tufted acutely triquetrous softly compressible stems; leaves grass-like, flaccid, shorter than the stems; bracts 1-3, the lowest longer than the inflorescence and usually erect so that the inflorescence is thrown to one side.
Inflorescence a simple umbel or reduced to a dense head, the rays, when developed, up to 8, rather short, slender, spreading; spikelets usually reddish-black, rarely pallid, 8-20-flowered, very numerous and densely clustered on the rays or in the head (the clusters 6-12 mm diam.), very small, linear, 4-8 mm long and c. 1 mm wide; rhachilla not winged; glumes rather densely packed but at length spreading, very broad, very obtuse, the back with a more or less 3-nerved green stripe down the middle, but scarcely keeled; c. 0.75 mm long; stamens usually 1; style 3-branched.
Nut obovoid-cuneate, c. 0.5 x 0.3 mm, acutely triquetrous with nearly flat or concave sides, straw-coloured, with a minute point at the base of the style, slightly shorter than the glume.
Published illustration:
Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 159.
Distribution:
|
Grows in wet places.
S.Aust.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, MU. All mainland States. warm parts of Europe, Africa and Asia.
|
Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: Jan. — July.
|
SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
|
Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
|