Family: Cyperaceae
Cyperus exaltatus
Citation:
Retz., Obs. Bot. 5:11 (1789).
Synonymy: Cyperus exaltatus Common name: Tall flat-sedge, giant sedge.
Description:
Stout tufted perennial, to I m high; stems triquetrous, 2-3 mm thick at the top; leaves about as long as the stem, 3-10 mm wide; bracts 3-6, like the leaves; serrulate on the edges; the lower ones much exceeding the inflorescence (to 80 cm long).
Umbel compound, with several spreading rays; spikelets rather densely arranged in oblong or linear spikes at the end of the rays and their branches a rich deep-brown to golden-brown, mostly linear, 20-40-flowered, to 15 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide; rhachilla winged; glumes tightly packed, mucronate, keeled, 3-5-nerved on the back and nerveless on the sides, c. 1.5 mm long; style 3-fid.
Nut ellipsoid to ovoid or obovoid, acute, cuneate, c. 0.7 x c. 0.4 mm, trigonous, sides flat or slightly convex, straw-coloured, slightly shiny or dull, with a transparent very faint reticulate-papillose layer, about half the length of the glume.
Published illustration:
Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 160.
Distribution:
|
Grows in wet places.
S.Aust.: NW, LE, FR, MU, SL. All mainland States. Africa; Asia and South America.
|
Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: Jan. — May, July and Sept.
|
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
|