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Synonyms: Kobresiaceae Gilly
Common name: Sedge Family.
Number of genera 112. Number of species 3600.
Angiosperm. Liliopsida.
Disseminule an intact or entire fruit.
Fruits
Pistil(s) compound; 1; 1-pistillate; with carpels united. Fruit anthocarp, or pericarpium; simple; drupe (Diplasia, but not Spjut), or urticle (Indocarex, Carex), or berry (not Spjut); simple; cypsela (Eleocharis Spjut Fig. 42B & only family), or glans (Becquerelia), or pseudanthecium (Carex Spjut Fig. 43D-E & only family); without persistent central column; with styles(s); at apex; within accessory organ(s); within perianth (bristles), or prophyll (perigyium) (Carex); persistent; 1-seeded; 1-seeded; 1-carpellate; in transection angled, or terete, or flat; 2–3-angled; apex beaked, or not beaked; apex long beaked to short beaked; wall crustaceous, or membranaceous, or hard; indehiscent. Epicarp brown (all shades), or gray, or black, or white, or green; shiny, or dull; durable; membranous, or crustaceous, or hard; glabrous (without hairs); without armature; smooth, or not smooth; pitted, or ridged, or wrinkled (irregularly), or striate, or rugose, or roughened (minutely), or tuberculate; without wing(s); without apical respiratory hole. Mesocarp absent, or present. Endocarp absent, or present; not separating from exocarp; hard; without operculum; without secretory cavities; without longitudinal ridges. Funiculus short; short without seed bearing hooks (retinacula); not persisting in fruit after seed shed.
Seeds
Aril absent. Seed larger than minute; in transection compressed, or terete (sub); not bowl shaped; not nutlike; without winglike beak; without caudate appendage(s); at maturity with food reserves; with endosperm; without canavanine. Sarcotesta absent. Testa present; without fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer; tight; surface smooth; without crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle; without notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approach each other; without glands; without bristles; glabrous; without wings; without collar; without operculum; colored; monochrome; brown (all shades); thin; not becoming mucilaginous when wetted; surrounding embryo. Hilum punctate. Endosperm development nuclear; copious; fleshy (at least some); opaque; smooth; with starch; with oils, or proteins (at least outer layer); without fatty acid containing cyclopropene; without apical lobes; without chlorophyll; without isodiametric faceted surface; without odor.
Embryo differentiated from food reserve; well developed; 1 per seed; partially filling testa (with food reserve); 0.5 times the length of food reserve; at one end of seed not extending into a depression or cup; basal; capitate; transverse to seed length; without coleoptile; without coleorhiza; without simmondsin; without stomata; not green; with 1 cotyledon. Cotyledons one and terminal with lateral plumule (to nearly basal); not modified into scutellum; not circinately coiled. Hypocotyl-radicle undeveloped.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan. New World, Old World. North America, Middle America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia Major, Asia Minor, southeastern Asia, Australia, Oceania.
Weed information
1 or more USA state noxious weeds.
USA states and territories with listed noxious weeds: Alabama (AL), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Mississippi (MS), New Hampshire (NH), New Mexico (NM), North Carolina (NC), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Puerto Rico (PR), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Washington (WA).
USA state and territory noxious weeds: -- Carex kobomugi Ohwi: USA state noxious weed: CT●, MA●.-- Cladium jamaicense Crantz: USA state noxious weed: PRª●. -- Cyperus esculentus L.: USA state noxious weed: AZ°, CA●°, CO●°, CT°, GA°, HI●°, LA°, ME°, MI●°, MS°, NC°, NH°, NM°, OR●, TN°, TX°, WA●. -- Cyperus odoratus L.: USA state noxious weed: PR●. -- Cyperus rotundus L.: USA state noxious weed: AL°, AR●°, AZ°, CA●°, FL°, GA°, LA°, MS°, NC°, NM°, OK°, OR●, SC°, TN°, TX°. -- Cyperus spp.: USA state noxious weed: RI●°, TX°. -- Dichromena spp. (=Rhynchospora spp.): USA state noxious weed: PR●. -- Eleocharis baldwinii (Torr.) Chapm.: USA state noxious weed: PRª. -- Fuirena scirpoidea Michx.: USA state noxious weed: PRª●. -- Rhynchospora spp.: USA state noxious weed: LA°, PR●. -- Scirpus spp.: USA state noxious weed: PRª. -- Symbols: ªaquatic weed; ●terrestrial weed; °weed in seed. -- Last updated September 2008.
Listed seeds
ASOA listed seeds, ISTA listed seeds.
ASOA listed seeds: -- Carex aquatilis Wahlenb. -- Carex festucacea Schkuhr ex Willd. -- Carex lupulina Muhl. ex Willd. -- Carex L. spp. -- Carex trichocarpa Willd. -- Cyperus esculentus L. -- Cyperus rotundus L. -- Cyperus L. spp. -- Eleocharis obtusa (Willd.) Schult. -- Eleocharis R. Br. spp. -- Eleocharis tenuis (Willd.) Schult. -- Eriophorum L. spp. -- Fimbristylis annua (All.) Roem. & Schult. -- Fimbristylis autumnalis (L.) Roem. & Schult. -- Fimbristylis baldwiniana (Schult.) Torr. = Fimbristylis annua (All.) Roem. & Schult. -- Fimbristylis Vahl spp. -- Kyllinga Rottb. spp. -- Rhynchospora Vahl spp. -- Scirpus L. spp. -- Last updated September 2008.
ISTA listed seeds: -- Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Pallaw -- Bulbostylis barbata (Rottb.) C. B. Clarkew -- Carex elata All.-- Carex longibracteata Steud. = Carex myosurus Nees -- Carex myosurus Nees -- Cyperus alternifolius L. -- Cyperus compressus L.w -- Cyperus esculentus L.w -- Cyperus flavidus Retz. -- Cyperus iria L.w -- Cyperus melanospermus (Nees) J. V. Suringar-- Cyperus rotundus L.w -- Kyllinga melanosperma Nees = Cyperus melanospermus (Nees) J. V. Suringar-- Pycreus flavidus (Retz.) T. Koyama = Cyperus flavidus Retz.w -- Schoenoplectus supinus (L.) Pallaw -- Scirpus maritimus L. = Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla-- Scirpus supinus L. = Schoenoplectus supinus (L.) Palla-- Symbols: aagricultural and vegetable seeds (Table 2A Part 1); ttree and shrub species (Table 2A Part 2); fflower, spice, herb, and medicinal seeds (Table 2A Part 3); wweed seeds. -- Last updated September 2008.
Accepted genera
Abildgaardia Vahl -- Actinoschoenus Benth. -- Actinoscirpus (Ohwi) R. W. Haines & Lye -- Afrotrilepis (Gilly) J. Raynal -- Alinula J. Raynal -- Amphiscirpus Oteng-Yeb. -- Androtrichum (Brongn.) Brongn. -- Arthrostylis R. Br. -- Ascolepis Nees ex Steud., nom. cons. -- Ascopholis C. E. C. Fisch. -- Asterochaete Nees -- Baumea Gaudich. -- Becquerelia Brongn. -- Bisboeckelera Kuntze -- Blysmus Panz. ex Schult., nom. cons. -- Bolboschoenus (Asch.) Palla -- Bulbostylis Kunth, nom. cons. -- Calyptrocarya Nees -- Capeobolus Browning -- Capitularina J. Kern -- Carex L., nom. cons. prop. -- Carpha Banks & Sol. ex R. Br. -- Caustis R. Br. -- Cephalocarpus Nees -- Chamaexiphium Hochst. -- Chillania Roiv. -- Chorizandra R. Br. -- Chrysitrix L. -- Cladium P. Browne -- Coleochloa Gilly -- Costularia C. B. Clarke -- Courtoisina Soják -- Crosslandia W. Fitzg. -- Cyathochaeta Nees -- Cyathocoma Nees -- Cymophyllus Mack. ex Britton & A. Br. -- Cyperus L. -- Desmoschoenus Hook. f. -- Didymiandrum Gilly -- Diplacrum R. Br. -- Diplasia Pers. -- Dulichium Pers. -- Egleria G. Eiten -- Eleocharis R. Br. -- Epischoenus C. B. Clarke -- Eriophorum L. -- Erioscirpus Palla -- Evandra R. Br. -- Everardia Ridl. -- Exocarya Benth. -- Exochogyne C. B. Clarke -- Ficinia Schrad., nom. cons. -- Fimbristylis Vahl, nom. cons. -- Fuirena Rottb. -- Gahnia J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. -- Gymnoschoenus Nees -- Hellmuthia Steud. -- Hypolytrum Pers. -- Isolepis R. Br. -- Karinia Reznicek & McVaugh -- Kobresia Willd. -- Koyamaea W. W. Thomas & Davidse -- Kyllinga Rottb., nom. cons. -- Kyllingiella R. W. Haines & Lye -- Lagenocarpus Nees -- Lepidosperma Labill. -- Lepironia Pers. -- Lipocarpha R. Br., nom. cons. -- Machaerina Vahl -- Mapania Aubl. -- Mapaniopsis C. B. Clarke -- Marisculus Goetgh. -- Mesomelaena Nees -- Microdracoides Hua -- Morelotia Gaudich. -- Neesenbeckia Levyns -- Nelmesia Van der Veken -- Nemum Desv. ex Ham. -- Oreobolopsis T. Koyama & Guagl. -- Oreobolus R. Br. -- Oxycaryum Nees -- Paramapania Uittien -- Phylloscirpus C. B. Clarke -- Pleurostachys Brongn. -- Principina Uittien -- Pseudoschoenus (C. B. Clarke) Oteng-Yeb. -- Ptilanthelium Steud. -- Pycreus P. Beauv. -- Queenslandiella Domin -- Reedia F. Muell. -- Remirea Aubl. -- Rhynchocladium T. Koyama -- Rhynchospora Vahl, nom. cons. -- Schoenoides Seberg -- Schoenoplectus (Rchb.) Palla, nom. cons. -- Schoenoxiphium Nees -- Schoenus L. -- Scirpodendron Zipp. ex Kurz -- Scirpoides Ség. -- Scirpus L., nom. cons. -- Scleria P. J. Bergius -- Sphaerocyperus Lye -- Sumatroscirpus Oteng-Yeb. -- Syntrinema H. Pfeiff. -- Tetraria P. Beauv. -- Thoracostachyum Kurz -- Trachystylis S. T. Blake -- Trianoptiles Fenzl -- Trichophorum Pers., nom. cons. -- Trichoschoenus J. Raynal -- Tricostularia Nees ex Lehm. -- Trilepis Nees -- Uncinia Pers. -- Volkiella Merxm. & Czech
References specific to this family
Cronquist page 1139. Millspaugh, C.F. & A. Chase. 1903. Cyperaceae. In: C.F. Millspaugh, Plantae Yucatanae, fasc. 1. Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. ser. 3:67–84.
General references
Cronquist, A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, 1,262 p. Columbia University Press, New York, Gaertner, J. 1788–1805. De fructibus et seminibus plantarum. The Author, Stuttgart, Goldberg, A. 1986 (dicots) and 1989 (monocots). Classification, evolution, and phylogeny of the familes of Dicotyledons. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 58 for dicots (314 pp.) and 71 for monocots (74 pp.). [Goldberg's illustrations are reproduced from older publications and these should be consulted], Gunn, C.R. and C.A. Ritchie. 1988. Identification of disseminules listed in the Federal Noxious Weed Act. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1719:1–313, Gunn, C.R., J.H. Wiersema, C.A. Ritchie, and J.H. Kirkbride, Jr. 1992 and amendments. Families and genera of Spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1796:1–500, LeMaout, E. and J. Decaisne. 1876. A general system of botany, 1,065 p. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The plant-book, 706 p. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Martin, A.C. 1946. The comparative internal morphology of seeds. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 36:513–660, Spjut, R.W. 1994. A systematic treatment of fruit types. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 70:1–182.
Illustrations
Poor fruit and no seed illustrations. Disseminule illustration(s): fruit, or embryo. Fruit illustration(s): NoxWeed, LeMaout & Decaisne, Millspaugh & Chase (1903). Embryo illustration(s): Gunn & Ritchie, Martin, LeMaout & Decaisne.
• Fruit. 1 of 41. Carex liparocarpos subsp. bordzilowskii (V. I. Krecz.) T. V. Egorova: fruiting head. • Fruit. 2 of 41. Carex liparocarpos subsp. bordzilowskii (V. I. Krecz.) T. V. Egorova: fruits with scales. • Seed. 3 of 41. Carex liparocarpos subsp. bordzilowskii (V. I. Krecz.) T. V. Egorova: fruit. • Fruit. 4 of 41. Cladium mariscoides (Muhl.) Torr.: fruit (only) with scales. • Seed. 5 of 41. Cladium mariscoides (Muhl.) Torr.: fruits. • Fruit. 6 of 41. Cyperus polystachyos Rottb.: fruiting head. • Fruit and seed. 7 of 41. Cyperus polystachyos Rottb.: fruits with scales and naked. • Seed. 8 of 41. Cyperus polystachyos Rottb.: fruits. • Fruit. 9 of 41. Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. f.) Trin. ex Hensch.: fruits. • Seed. 10 of 41. Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. f.) Trin. ex Hensch.: fruits. • Fruit. 11 of 41. Kyllinga odorataVahl. subsp. cylindrica (Nees) T. Koyama: fruiting head. • Fruit. 12 of 41. Kyllinga odorataVahl. subsp. cylindrica (Nees) T. Koyama: fruit with scales. • Seed. 13 of 41. Kyllinga odorataVahl. subsp. cylindrica (Nees) T. Koyama: fruits. • Fruit. 14 of 41. Scirpodendron ghaeri (Gaertn.) Merr.: fruit. • Seed. 15 of 41. Scirpodendron ghaeri (Gaertn.) Merr.: fruits. • Fruit. 16 of 41. Scirpus articulatus L.: fruiting head. • Seed. 17 of 41. Scirpus articulatus L.: fruits. • Fruit. 18 of 41. Scleria macrophylla J. Presl & C. Presl: fruit. • Fruit. 19 of 41. Fimbristylis annua (All.) Roem. & Schult.: fruiting head. • Seed. 20 of 41. Fimbristylis annua (All.) Roem. & Schult.: fruits. • Seed. 22 of 41. Fimbristylis mucronulata (Michx.) S. F. Blake: fruits. • Embryo. 23 of 41. Bulbostylis puberula (Poir.) Kunth ex Clarke: embryo. • Embryo. 24 of 41. Carex myosurus Nees: embryo. • Embryo. 25 of 41. Courtoisina cyperoides (Roxb.) Sojak: embryo. • Embryo. 26 of 41. Cyperus laetus J. Presl. & C. Presl.: embryo. • Embryo. 27 of 41. Cyperus serotinus Rottb.: embryo. • Embryo. 28 of 41. Cyperus pilosus Vahl: embryo. • Embryo. 29 of 41. Eleocharis congesta D. Don var. japonica (Miq.) T. Koyama: embryo. • Embryo. 31 of 41. Eleocharis montana (Kunth) Roem. & Schult.: embryo. • Embryo. 32 of 41. Fimbristylis acuminata Vahl: embryo. • Embryo. 33 of 41. Fimbristylis tetragona R. Br.: embryo. • Embryo. 34 of 41. Fuirena ciliaris (L.) Roxb.: embryo. • Embryo. 35 of 41. Kyllinga polyphylla Willd. ex Kunth: embryo. • Embryo. 36 of 41. Cyperus cyperoides (L.) Kuntze: embryo. • Embryo. 37 of 41. Rhynchospora tenuis Link: embryo. • Embryo. 38 of 41. Scirpus articulatus (l.) Palla: embryo. • Embryo. 39 of 41. Scirpus juncoides Roxb.: embryo. • Embryo. 40 of 41. Schoenoplectus supinus L. subsp. supinus: embryo. • Embryo. 41 of 41. Scleria barteri Boeck.: embryo.
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘J.H. Kirkbride, Jr., C.R. Gunn, and M.J. Dallwitz. 2000 onwards. Family guide for fruits and seeds: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 12th April 2021. delta-intkey.com’.
