Mariscus cylindricus Elliott, Sketch Bot. S. Carolina 1: 74. 1816; Cyperus cylindricus (Elliott) Britton 1879, not Boeckeler 1859; Mariscus retrorsus (Chapman) C. B. Clarke

Herbs, perennial, cespitose, shortly rhizomatous. Culms trigonous, 20–50(–85) cm × 1–2(–4) mm, glabrous. Leaves 3–6(–10), 10–40(–55) cm × 1.5–4(–5) mm, V- to inversely W-shaped. Inflorescence: spike 1, densely oblong-ovoid often with small basal branches, 8–16 × 4–12(–16) mm; rays 4–8(–11), 0.5–3.5(–8.5) cm; bracts (3–)4–6(–10), ascending at (30–)45°, flat to broadly V-shaped, (4–)14–30(–55) cm × 1–5 mm, scabridulous along margins only; rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.2–0.3 mm wide. Spikelets 40–120, oblong-lanceoloid, subterete, 2.2–4(–4.5) × 0.8–1.6 mm; distal spikelet spreading or ascending; floral scales persistent, 2–5, appressed, brown to stramineous, or fuscous and lustrous, medially greenish and 1(–3)-ribbed, laterally greenish to yellowish white and 3–4-ribbed, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 1.8–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm, subcoriacous. Flowers: anthers 0.3–0.5 mm; styles 0.5–0.8 mm; stigmas 0.6–0.9 mm. Achenes brown, oblong-ellipsoid, 1.2–1.7 × 0.5–0.6 mm, base cuneate, apex subacute, surfaces papillose.

Fruiting summer (Jun–Aug). Open woods and thickets in moist to dry, sandy soils; 0–1000 m; Ala., Ark., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va.; Mexico (Tamaulipas).

Cyperus retrorsus was reported in Indiana (M. L. Horvat 1941); we have been unable to confirm the report.