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Shining flatsedge is an attractive plant up to 10" tall with sprawling culms up to 8" long, triangular in section. The flower spike (inflorescence) has 2-7 strikingly laterally-flattened spikelets 1/4-1/2" long; each spikelet has 8-18 reddish-brown floral scales arranged in two opposing rows, each covering a floret consisting of 2-3 stamens, an ovary, and a split style which may protrude 1-2 mm beyond the scales. The plant is wind pollinated.

Cyperus

Cyperus bipartitus

shining flatsedge [Blooms: Aug-Sep]

Rusty flatsedge produces an umbel comprised of 3-6 floral stalks 1-4" long bearing clusters of 2-4 floral spikes. (Visually, this looks much like the branch of a fir tree.) Individual spikes are 1/2-1.5" long with individual needle-like spikelets 1/2-1" long pointing in all directions (like a bottle brush). Each spikelet has 8-25 scales sheltering perfect florets (i.e., both three stamens and a tripartite style are present). Spikelets are initially yellow- or whitish green, becoming reddish-brown at maturity. (Thus the "rusty" name.)

Cyperus

Cyperus odoratus

rusty flatsedge [Blooms: Aug-Sep]