Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Cyperus erythrorhizos
redroot flatsedge
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east across much of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Pond and lake shores, streambanks, seeps, vernal pools, and ditches at low to middle elevations.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual, Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Description:
General:

Tufted annual, the triangular, solid, stout stems 1-7 dm. tall.

Leaves:

Leaves grass-like, crowded near the base, the elongate blade 2-9 mm. wide, the sheaths closed.

Flowers:

Inflorescence of clustered, cylindrical spikes, the terminal cluster sessile, the others on rays up to 7 cm. long, each spike 1-4 cm. long, with numerous, spirally arranged spikelets on an elongate rachis; scales of the spikelets in two vertical rows, 1.2-1.5 mm. long, with a green keel, closely set; perianth none; stamens 3; style trifid.

Fruits:

Achenes unequally triangular, 0.7-1.0 mm. long, pale and shining.

Accepted Name:
Cyperus erythrorhizos Muhl.
Publication: Descr. Gram. 20. 1817. 1817.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Cyperus cupreus J. Presl & C. Presl
Cyperus erythrorhizos Muhl. var. cupreus (J. Presl & C. Presl) Kük.
Cyperus halei Torr. ex Britton
Cyperus occidentalis Torr.
Cyperus washingtonensis Gand.
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Cyperus erythrorhizos in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database

WA Flora Checklist: Cyperus erythrorhizos checklist entry

OregonFlora: Cyperus erythrorhizos information

E-Flora BC: Cyperus erythrorhizos atlas page

CalPhotos: Cyperus erythrorhizos photos

15 photographs:
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