Citation: Vahl, Enum. Pl. 2:285 (1805/6).

Derivation: Latin fimbriae, a fringe; stylus, style; the whole style is often fringed or ciliate.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Fringe-rushes.

Description:
Tufted annuals or perennials; leaves all at the base of the stems, sometimes reduced to their sheaths; involucral bracts under the inflorescence similar to the leaves.

Spikelets several-flowered, solitary or in heads or in irregular umbel-like inflorescences; glumes imbricate all round the rhachilla, the lowest 1-4 empty; flowers bisexual; no hypogynous bristles; styles 2- or 3-cleft, the branches 2 in our species, thickened at the base, but articulate on the ovary and wholly deciduous.

About 300 species from tropical and warm countries, especially South East Asia and Australia. (Key adapted from Kern (1974) FI. Males. 7).

Biology: No text

Key to Species:

1. Leaves ligulate (sheaths and blades separated from each other by a fringe of short hairs or a membranous projection)
2. Glumes hairy, at least in the apical part	F. sieberiana 3.
2. Glumes glabrous	F. dichotoma 2.
1. Leaves eligulate (sheaths on the inner side gradually passing into the blades).
3. Base of the style fringed with a whorl of long pendent hairs covering at least the upper half of the nut	F. velata 4.
3. Style base glabrous or microscopically ciliolate	F. aestivalis 1.

Author: Not yet available