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Genus Schoenoplectus Family Cyperaceae

Description: Tufted or rhizomatous perennials. Culms nodeless, terete to triquetrous, glabrous.

Leaves mostly reduced to a mucro on a sheath, occasionally longer blade present; ligule membranous. Inflorescence pseudolateral, branched or head-like or a single spikelet; lowest involucral bract culm-like, usually erect.

Spikelets mostly sessile, many-flowered. Hypogynous bristles 2–6, filiform and retrorsely scabrous, or flattened and irregularly plumose. Stamens 2 or 3. Style 2- or 3-fid.

Nuts lenticular or trigonous, smooth.


Habitat
Photo Karen L Wilson

Flower
Photo Karen L Wilson

Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 30 species, cosmopolitan. Australia: 4 species, all States.

Previously more broadly circumscribed to include the smaller perennials and annuals that are now placed in Schoenoplectiella.

Text by K. L. Wilson (1993); edited KL Wilson (Nov 2015)
Taxon concept:

 Key to the species 
1Inflorescence simple, head-like; the lowest involucral bract much exceeding the inflorescence; culms triquetrous; leaf blades present, to 20 cm longSchoenoplectus pungens
Inflorescence compound, with the lowest involucral bract usually shorter than or equalling the inflorescence; culms terete; leaf blades absent or reduced2
2Culms terete, bluish grey-green; hypogynous bristles filiform, retrorsely scabrous, 5 or 6; glumes distinctly ciliateSchoenoplectus validus
Culms triquetrous to trigonous below inflorescence, becoming terete lower down, light to dark green (not bluish grey-green); hypogynous bristles somewhat flattened and plumose at least in part, 2–4(-5); glumes glabrous or sparsely minutely ciliolate
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3
3Hypogynous bristles flattened or folded longitudinally, antrorsely plumose, about as long as nut; glumes glabrous or rarely sparsely minutely ciliolate; culms yellow-greenSchoenoplectus subulatus
Hypogynous bristles flattish or trigonous in cross-section, antrorsely to spreading plumose, shorter than nut; glumes sparsely minutely ciliolate; culms mid-green to dark green
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Schoenoplectus californicus

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