Cyperus ligularis L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Cyperaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cyperus ligularis L.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Perennial, sometimes cespitose, 0.5-1.2 m tall; rhizome short, stout; roots thick; culms solitary, 3-angled, 3-6 mm wide near base, light green to glaucous, glabrous, minutely papillose, sheathing base of culm stout, to 3 cm wide. Leaves crowded at base; blades flattened, rarely the margins somewhat inrolled, 0.3-1.2 m long, 0.8-1.5 cm wide, finely veined, septate, glabrous, longacuminate at apex, the margins and midvein beneath harshly scabrous; sheaths closely overlapping at base, finely veined, septate, glabrous, reddish to purplish brown at base, eligulate. Inflorescence a compound umbel-like corymb, 5-25 cm diam.; involucral bracts leaflike, 6-8, the lower elongate, to 90 cm long, 0.7-1.5 cm wide, long-acuminate at apex, the upper ones short, linear to subulate; rays 5-12, to 20 cm long, 1-2 mm wide, obscurely 3-angled, minutely papillose; spikes oblong-cylindrical to subglobose, to 3 cm long, 0.8-1.5 cm wide, reddish, congested at ray tips; spikelets oblong-elliptic, subcylindrical to subcompressed, 4-8 x 1-2 mm , disarticulating at base, falling entire, with 4-8 flowers. Scales boat-shaped, 2-3 x 1.5-2 mm , finely 9—11- nerved, glabrous, reddish to reddish brown, acute at apex, the rachilla with narrow, scarious wings. Stamens 3, the anthers ca.

  • Discussion

    Mariscus rufus Kunth in Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 216. 1816.

    Cyperus sintenisii Boeck., Beitr. Cyper. 1: 12. 1888.

    Cyperus trigonus Boeck., Beitr. Cyper. 1: 11. 1888.

  • Distribution

    Common in shallow pools and wet areas along roadsides and in disturbed habitats. Bordeaux Mountain (A2094), C m z Bay (A856), Reef Bay Trail by Petroglyphs (A2932). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; tropical and subtropical America, tropical West Africa, Chagos Archipelago (Indian Ocean), Seychelles, and western Pacific islands and atolls.

    Seychelles Africa| Africa| Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|