Common name: Leafy Flat Sedge
Cyperus lucidus R.Br. APNI* Synonyms: Cyperus acutus R.Br. APNI*
Description: Robust tussock-forming perennial with short thick rhizome. Culms 30–150 cm high, trigonous, smooth, to 10 mm diam.
Leaves strongly septate-nodulose, often longer than culms, 5–40 mm wide. Inflorescence compound or decompound with 6–10 primary branches to 20 cm long; spikes ovoid to cylindrical, 1–3 cm long and diam.; involucral bracts leaf-like, 5–10 much exceeding inflorescence, to 150 cm long. Spikelets terete to flattened, numerous per spike, 4–20 mm long, 1–2.5 mm wide in side view, 4–10-flowered; rachilla broadly winged; spikelet falling as unit. Glumes acute, with sides 2–4-nerved, 4–6.5 mm long, red-brown. Stamens 3. Style 3-fid.
Nut trigonous, very narrow-ellipsoid, about two-thirds as long as glume, 2.5–3 mm long, c. 0.7 mm diam., dark grey-brown to blackish.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in swampy areas and on stream banks; widespread on coast, tablelands and western slopes, west to Pilliga Scrub and Warrumbungle Ra.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, NWP, LHI
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A.
The nuts are often smutted.
Text by K. L. Wilson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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