Cyperus lupulinus

Cyperus lupulinus, the Great Plains flatsedge, is a plant species native to North America. It is widespread across southeastern Canada and the central and northeastern United States as far west as Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, with more isolated populations reported in Washington (Asotin County), Idaho (Idaho County) and Oregon (Wallowa County). It grows in open, sun-lit locations such as fields, prairies, roadsides, farms, etc.^[2][3]

Great Plains flatsedge
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Cyperus
Species:	C. lupulinus
Binomial name
Cyperus lupulinus (Spreng.) Marcks
Synonyms[1]
Scirpus lupulinus Spreng.

Description

Cyperus lupulinusis a perennial herb up to 50 cm tall, spreading by means of underground rhizomes. Culms are triangular in cross-section. Spikes are densely clustered into a more or less spherical clump. Achenes are dark brown, almost black, egg-shaped, about 2 mm across.^{[2][4][5][6][7][8]}

Taxonomy

Two subspecies are accepted:^[1][2]

• Cyperus lupulinus subsp. lupulinus - Floral scales greater than 2.5 mm, not clasping achenes; spikelets with 5-22 scales each
• Cyperus lupulinus subsp. macilentus (Fernald) Marcks - Floral scales less than 2.5 mm, clasping achenes; spikelets with 3-7 scales each

See also

• List of Cyperus species