Transcript Plant Class Sp 2010/Cyperaceae

Cyperaceae
The Sedge Family
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70-115 genera
3600-5000 species
Herbs
Monocots
Annual, biennial, or perennial
Flowers are arranged in spikelets somewhat as in
grasses, and these again in larger spike-like or
panicled inflorescences
Flowers are often unisexual, are wind-pollinated
Widely distributed throughout the earth
Found mainly in wetlands and poor soils
Stems are triangular
Carex Genus
• Est. 1500-2500 species
• One of the largest and most widespread
genera of angiosperms
• Male flower consists of 3 stamens, female
flower consists of 2-3 carpels
• Perennials
• panicles of flower heads in short spikes
Carex interior: Inland sedge
• 1.5 feet
• Blooms mid Spring
• 3-5 leaves/stem
Carex lasiocarpa: woolyfruit sedge
• Most dominant in
wetlands, forming huge
stands
• Leaves permanently folded
along mid rib
Carex stipata: awlfruit sedge
• 3.5 feet
• Course leaves often elongate
• Low, wet grounds
Carex trisperma-threeseeded
sedge
• Adapted to fine- and
meduim-textured soils.
• Stems very slender
and weak.
• Mostly near the coast.
Carex intumescensgreater bladder sedge
• Moist to wet woods.
• 3 feet.
• Blooms late spring
Carex retrorsa-knotsheath sedge
• Found in swampy woods
and wet meadows.
• Stems densely clustered
on short rhizomes.
Carex gracillima-graceful sedge
• Blooms late spring.
• Strongly purple-tinged
at base.
• Leaves sheathed and
and glabrous.
Carex limosa-mud sedge
• Stems arising singly or few
together from long rhizomes.
• Few leaves
Carex pseudocyperuscypress-like sedge
• Stout stems
• Pistillate spikes drooping.
• Swamps and bogs.
Eriophorum Genus
• Scales spirally arranged.
• Flowers perfect, each in the axil of the a scale.
• Mature spiklet forms a dense, cottony tuft 24cm.
• Stamens 1-3
• Perennial herbs of wet places
• Grass like leaves
• Found in northern hemispere.
Eriophorum polystachionColdswamp Cotton-grass
Flowering June-August.
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• Habitat: bogs.
• Leaves Elongated, flat,
rough along the edges.
Eriophorum vaginatumtussock cottongrass
• Leaves clustered at base.
• Bogs and open conifer
swamps.
Eriophorum virginicumtawny cottongrass
• Stems stiff and erect
to 1 meter.
• Solitary of few from together
from freely rooting base.
• Swamps and bogs.
References
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http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/Cyperace.htm
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Cyperaceae
http://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=CAIN11
http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/photos/CARRET1_RF.jpg
http://www.prairiemoon.com/images/D/Carex-gracillima-Purple-sheathedGraceful-Sedge-plant.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Carex_limosa_korseby.jpeg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Carex_pseudocyperus.jpeg
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florane/species/3/eriopoly.htm
Cronquist, Arthur., Gleason, Henry A. Manual of vascular Plants of Northeastern
United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Edition. Ney York Botanical Garden.
1991.