Redroot Flatsedge (Cyperus erythrorhizos)
- Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
- Flowering: July-October.
- Field Marks: This flatsedge differs from all similar species by the extremely tiny, reddish brown scales of the spikelets and by its very small, ivory-colored achenes.
- Habitat: Along rivers and streams, around lakes and ponds, in sloughs.
- Habit: Tufted annual with reddish roots.
- Stems: Erect, smooth, obscurely triangular, up to 2 1/2 feet tall.
- Leaves: Long, narrow, rough along the edges, up to 1/12 inch broad.
- Flowers: One per scale, with many scales per spikelet, the entire cluster of flat spikelets subtended by 3-7 leaflike bracts.
- Scales: Lanceolate, pointed, red-brown, shiny, about 1/10 inch long.
- Sepals: 0.
- Petals: 0.
- Stamens: 3.
- Pistils: 1; styles 3; ovary superior.
- Fruits: Achenes ivory-colored, shiny, about 1/20 inch long.
- Notes: The achenes are eaten by waterfowl. Dwarf plants only one inch tall have been known to flower.
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