Clustered Flatsedge (Cyperus compactus)
Description
This is a perennial (living longer than 1 season) sedge with a short thick rhizome (under ground stem connecting plants) and are generally 40-100cm tall. Culms (stems) are smooth, slightly swollen at the base , also pink/red at the base and are triangular in cross section. Leaves are shorter than culms (stems). Leaves are 4-8 mm broad, and are ridged with deep dip down the centre. As for all Cyperaceae the leaf sheaths are closed around the stem and there are no ligule(appendage) inside the base of the leaf. Each stem may have 2-7 inflorescence (flower heads). Each inflorescence may have up to 20 or so spikelets or branches. Each spikelet is 10-28mm long, quite smooth and delicate and red/brown in colour. The name congestus means crowded and probably refers to how snug the fruit lies along the spikelet. The bracts (leaves surrounding the inflorescence) are quite a bit longer than the spikelets.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Poales
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Family: Cyperaceae
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Genus: Cyperus
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