Mohlenbrock’s sedge

Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous, tuberlike. Culms trigonous, 5–35 cm × 0.7–1.2 mm, glabrous. Leaves V-shaped, 5–25 cm × 1.5–3.5 mm, slightly scabridulous on abaxial margins, midrib. Inflorescences: spikes loosely ± globose, 15–25 mm wide; rays 1–10 cm; rachis 1–4 mm; bracts 3–7, ascending, V-shaped, 3–20 cm × 1–3 mm; rachilla deciduous, wingless. Spikelets 3–24, compressed, oblong-lanceoloid, 4–12 × 2.5–3.2 mm; floral scales deciduous, 3–9, pale reddish brown, ovate, laterally 3–5-ribbed, 2.5–3 × 2–2.4 mm , apex acute to obtuse. Flowers: anthers 1–1.2 mm; styles 0.4–0.6 mm; stigmas 1–2 mm. Achenes dark brown, ± stipitate, ellipsoid, 2–2.4 × 0.9–1.2 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces glabrous, puncticulate, or papillose. 2n = 166.

Fruiting summer. Sand prairies, waste places, fallow fields; of conservation concern; 100–300 m; Ark., Ill., La., Mo., Tex.

Cyperus grayoides is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plant’s. See frontispiece.