Fuirena simplex Vahl

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Cyperaceae

• Scientific Name

  Fuirena simplex Vahl

• Description

  Species Description - Rhizomatous perennial 2–5(–10) dm; mid-stem sheaths usually smooth, the others hispid or hirsute; larger blades 5–20 cm × 3–7 mm, hispid-ciliate and often also hairy on the surfaces; spikelets 8–15(–20) mm, in 1–3(–5) clusters; scales 2.5–3.5 mm, 3 of the 5–7 strong raised nerves convergent and exserted to form a spreading awn usually at least 2/3 the length of the scale; bristles retrorsely barbellate, reaching or often surpassing the base of the pet-blades, these ovate, blunt or retuse, with the midrib excurrent as a retrorsely barbellate dorsal-subapical bristle; anthers 3, 0.9–1.2 mm; 2n=(30), 46. Wet sunny places; C. Amer. and W.I., n. to Ill., Mo., and Nebr. Most of our plants are var. simplex, as described above. The var. aristulata (Torr.) Kral, mostly on the s. Great Plains and entering our range in w. Mo., lacks rhizomes and is usually annual, seldom over 3 dm, with 1–3 anthers 0.5–0.6 mm.