Cyperaceae

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Cyperaceae

• The Sedge Family

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• 70-115 genera
• 3600-5000 species
• Herbs
• Monocots
• Annual, biennial, or perennial
• Flowers are arranged in spikelets somewhat as in
  grasses, and these again in larger spike-like or
  panicled inflorescences
• Flowers are often unisexual, are wind-pollinated
• Widely distributed throughout the earth
• Found mainly in wetlands and poor soils
• Stems are triangular

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Carex Genus

• Est. 1500-2500 species
• One of the largest and most widespread genera of
  angiosperms
• Male flower consists of 3 stamens, female flower
  consists of 2-3 carpels
• Perennials
• panicles of flower heads in short spikes

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Carex interior Inland sedge

• 1.5 feet
• Blooms mid Spring
• 3-5 leaves/stem

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Carex lasiocarpa woolyfruit sedge

• Most dominant in
• wetlands, forming huge
• stands
• Leaves permanently folded
• along mid rib

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Carex stipata awlfruit sedge

• 3.5 feet
• Course leaves often elongate
• Low, wet grounds

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Carex trisperma-threeseeded sedge

• Adapted to fine- and
• meduim-textured soils.
• Stems very slender
• and weak.
• Mostly near the coast.

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Carex intumescens- greater bladder sedge

• Moist to wet woods.
• 3 feet.
• Blooms late spring

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Carex retrorsa-knotsheath sedge

• Found in swampy woods
• and wet meadows.
• Stems densely clustered
• on short rhizomes.

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Carex gracillima-graceful sedge

• Blooms late spring.
• Strongly purple-tinged
• at base.
• Leaves sheathed and
• and glabrous.

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Carex limosa-mud sedge

• Stems arising singly or few
• together from long rhizomes.
• Few leaves

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Carex pseudocyperus-cypress-like sedge

• Stout stems
• Pistillate spikes drooping.
• Swamps and bogs.

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Eriophorum Genus

• Scales spirally arranged.
• Flowers perfect, each in the axil of the a scale.
• Mature spiklet forms a dense, cottony tuft 2-4cm.
• Stamens 1-3
• Perennial herbs of wet places
• Grass like leaves
• Found in northern hemispere.

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Eriophorum polystachion- Coldswamp Cotton-grass
.

• Flowering June-August
• Habitat bogs.
• Leaves Elongated, flat,
• rough along the edges.

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Eriophorum vaginatum- tussock cottongrass

• Leaves clustered at base.
• Bogs and open conifer
• swamps.

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Eriophorum virginicum- tawny cottongrass

• Stems stiff and erect
• to 1 meter.
• Solitary of few from together
• from freely rooting base.
• Swamps and bogs.

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References

• http//delta-intkey.com/angio/www/Cyperace.htm
• http//en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_EncyclopC3A6d
  ia_Britannica/Cyperaceae
• http//plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbolCAI
  N11
• http//wisplants.uwsp.edu/photos/CARRET1_RF.jpg
• http//www.prairiemoon.com/images/D/Carex-gracilli
  ma-Purple-sheathed-Graceful-Sedge-plant.jpg
• http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4
  /Carex_limosa_korseby.jpeg
• http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf
  /Carex_pseudocyperus.jpeg
• http//www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florane/
  species/3/eriopoly.htm
• Cronquist, Arthur., Gleason, Henry A. Manual of
  vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and
  Adjacent Canada. Second Edition. Ney York
  Botanical Garden. 1991.