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.

RHYNCHOSPORA

BEAKED-RUSH

Perennial
Stem rounded or 3-sided, leafy, solid
Leaves sheathing
Inflorescence generally subtended by 1+ awn-like bracts; spikelets 1–many in generally terminal clusters; flower bracts spiraled, lower generally sterile, upper generally staminate, others bisexual
Flower: perianth bristles 5–many, persistent; stamens 3; style 2-branched, base much expanded, persistent as tubercle on fruit
Fruit 2-sided
Species in genus: ± 200 species: worldwide, especially tropical
Etymology: (Greek: beaked seed)
Reference: [Gale 1944 Rhodora 46:89–134;159–197;207–249;255–278]

Native

R. capitellata (Michx.) Vahl

Inflorescence: flower bracts ± dark brown
Flower: perianth bristles 5–7, = or > fruit, barbs reflexed
Fruit 1.3–1.8 mm, body obovoid, reddish brown, smooth
Ecology: Marshes, seeps
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (Sonoma, Trinity cos.), n Sierra Nevada Foothills (Butte Co.)
Distribution outside California: also eastern N.America
Synonyms: R. glomerata (L.) M. Vahl vars. c. (Michx.) Kük. and minor Britton
Horticultural information: TRY.