Manyflower Flatsedge

Herbs, perennial, cespitose, with inconspicuous, short rhizomes scarcely visible between culm bases. Culms basally cormlike, trigonous, (10–)20–80 cm × 1–3 mm, glabrous. Leaves inversely W-shaped, 20–70 cm × 5–11 mm, adaxial surface, margins minutely scabridulous. Inflorescences: spikes densely ellipsoid to obovoid, 2.5–4.3 × 1.5–3 cm; rays 5–10, 4–20 cm, glabrous; rachis 7–14 mm; bracts 3–8, horizontal to ascending at 45°, flat, 5–35 cm × 2.5–6 mm; rachilla persistent, wings 0.5 mm wide. Spikelets 50–90, linear-lanceoloid to linear-subulate, ± terete-quadrangular, (11–)12–13(–15) × 1.1–1.6 mm; distal spikelet spreading or ascending; floral scales persistent, 3–6(–8), appressed, whitish green or often yellow-tinted, sometimes reddish striate, laterally 4-ribbed, ovate-lanceolate, (3.9–)4.2–4.6(–4.8) × 1.6–2 mm. Flowers: anthers 0.7–1 mm; styles 1–1.5 mm; stigmas 2–3 mm. Achenes yellowish brown to brown, ± stipitate, conspicuously falcate, 3–4 times long as wide, oblong, 2.2–2.6 × 0.6–0.7 mm, apex obtuse, surfaces puncticulate.

Ala., Ark., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ky., Md., Mo., N.J., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

Fruiting summer (Jul–Aug).

Disturbed, sunny or partly shaded places in mesic or dry-mesic soils, often on riverbanks and flood plains; 0–800m.

Cyperus refractus Engelmann ex Steudel var. lancastriensis (Porter) Kükenthal; Mariscus lancastriensis (Porter) C. B. Clarke

Cyperus lancastriensis is a species of sedge that is native to eastern parts of the United States.