Pycreus Palisot de Beauvois, Fl. Oware 2: 48. 1816; Cyperus sect. Pycreus (Palisot de Beauvois) Grisebach

Culms and leaves with Kranz (chlorocyperoid) anatomy. Inflorescences: spikes; rachilla persistent, wingless or nearly so. Spikelets borne in loosely spicate to ± digitate clusters; floral scales deciduous, 2-keeled or folded. Flowers: stamens (1–)2–3; pistils 2; stigmas 2. Achenes biconvex or ± cylindric, laterally compressed, edge borne toward rachilla.

Species ca. 100 (11 in the flora): worldwide.

Laterally compressed, biconvex achenes, a feature not occurring elsewhere in the family, distinguish Cyperus subg. Pycreus. The taxon has been treated as a genus in Flora Mesoamericana (C. D. Adams 1994), an idea that may have merit.