Cyperus

• Authority

  Britton, Nathaniel L. & Millspaugh, Charles F. 1920. The Bahama Flora.

• Family

  Cyperaceae

• Scientific Name

  Cyperus

• Description

  Genus Description - Annual or perennial sedges. Culms in our species simple, triangular, leafy near the base, and with 1 or more leaves at the summit forming an involucre to the simple or compound, umbellate or capitate inflorescence. Rays of the umbel sheathed at the base, usually very unequal, one or more of the heads or spikes commonly sessile. Spikelets flat or subterete, the scales falling away from the rachis as they mature (nos. 1-7), or persistent and the. spikelets falling away from the axis of the head or spike with the scales attached (nos. 8-14). Scales concave, conduplicate or keeled, 2-ranked, all flower-bearing or the lower ones empty. Flowers perfect. Perianth none. Stamens 1-3, Style 2-3-cleft, deciduous from the summit of the achene. [Ancient Greek name for these sedges.] About 600 species, of wide distribution in tropical and temperate regions. Type species: Cyperus esculentus L.