CYPERACEAE

SEDGE FAMILY

Raymond Cranfill, except as specified

Annual or perennial herb, often rhizomed, often of wet open places, generally monoecious; roots fibrous, hairy
Stem generally 3-sided
Leaves often 3-ranked; sheath generally closed; ligule generally 0; blade (0) various, parallel-veined
Inflorescence: spikelets variously clustered; flowers generally sessile in axil of flower bract
Flower small, generally wind-pollinated; perianth 0 or bristle-like; stamens generally 3, anthers attached at base, 4-chambered; ovary superior, 1-chambered, 1-ovuled, style 2–3-branched
Fruit: achene, generally 3-sided
Genera in family: ± 110 genera, 3600 species: worldwide, especially temp
Reference: [Tucker 1987 J Arnold Arbor 68:361–445]
Difficult: taxa differ in technical characters of inflorescence and fruit.

CLADIUM

TWIG RUSH

Perennial
Stem rounded, leafy, hollow
Inflorescence: spikelets in terminal and axillary, panicle-like clusters; flower bracts spiraled, basal sterile, reduced; uppermost flowers bisexual, others staminate
Flower: perianth bristles 0; stamens 2; style 2–3-branched
Fruit weakly 2-sided, truncate at base; style base persistent; tubercle 0
Species in genus: ± 40 species: worldwide, especially Australia
Etymology: (Greek: branch, from inflorescence)

Native

C. californicum (S. Watson) O'Neill

SAW-GRASS

Plant 10–20 dm, stout, coarse, from long rhizomes, forming dense bunches
Leaf 7–10 mm wide, flat; margin sharply serrate
Fruit purple-brown; tip 2–2.5 mm, buff
Chromosomes: 2n=36
Ecology: Uncommon. Generally alkaline marshes, swamps
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Central Coast, Outer South Coast Ranges, South Coast, Western Transverse Ranges, Desert
Distribution outside California: Nevada, Arizona
Flowering time: Jun–Sep
Synonyms: C. mariscus R. Br. var. c. S. Watson
Horticultural information: TRY; STBL.