Flora of New Zealand Series

Fls hermaphrodite or unisexual, each in the axil of a bracteole (glume) and arranged in spikelets; infl. various, a simple or compound irregular umbel or panicle, or a capitate cluster of spikelets or a single terminal spike; commonly subtended by 1 to several involucral lvs. Per. of bristles, scales, hairs or 0. Stamens 3–(2–1), rarely 4–6; anthers basifixed, 2-celled, connective us. ± produced into a small point. Ovary superior, 1-locular; style-branches 2 or 3; ovule solitary, anatropous. Fr. nutlike, ind.; seed with cop. endosperm. Us. perennial, often rhizomatous herbs. Culms us. solid, often triquetrous. Lvs us. linear, some or all often reduced to sheaths. Cosmopolitan, c. 90 genera and c. 4,000 spp.

SYNOPSIS OF TRIBES

• A.
• • Fls all hermaphrodite
  • 1. Tribe CYPEREAE. 
  • • Glumes distichously arranged, all floriferous except lowest one:
    • 1. Cyperus
  • 2. Tribe SCIRPEAE. 
  • • Glumes spirally arranged, all floriferous except lowest one:
    • 2. Desmoschoenus, 3. Scirpus, 4. Eleocharis, 5. Fimbristylis
• B.
• • Fls both hermaphrodite and unisexual
  • 1. Tribe RHYNCHOSPOREAE. 
  • • 1–2 (seldom more) glumes in middle of spike floriferous, upper and lower glumes empty:
    • 6. Schoenus, 7. Oreobolus, 8. Carpha, 9. Lepidosperma, 10. Machaerina, 11. Baumea, 12. Tetraria, 13. Morelotia, 14. Gahnia
• C.
• • Fls all unisexual
  • 1. Tribe CARICEAE. 
  • • Female fls enclosed in a utricle; female spikelets 1-fld, arranged in spikes of 2-∞ spikelets; male spikelets 2-∞-fld:
    • 15. Uncinia, 16. Carex.

Fig. 38. CYPERACEAE. Scirpus, Fimbristylis, Eleocharis : immature fruits. Oreobolus : immature fruit; peduncle with persistent hypogynous scales. Uncinia : utricle cut open to show developing nut and hooked rhachilla. Carex : male flower with glume; utricle cut open to show developing nut. In Scirpus, Eleocharis and Oreobolus the style, the stigmas and the filaments of the 3 stamens are retained in the immature fruit. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X2W]

Fig. 39. CYPERACEAE. Lepidosperma : fruits, young and mature. Baumea : young fruit. Tetraria : flower; fruit. Carpha : young fruit. In young fruits, style, stigmas and at least the filaments of the 3 stamens are retained. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X2X]