Cyperus lecontei Torrey ex Steudel

Distribution: Southeastern U.S.

Habitat: Wet shores

Florida status: Native

Recognition: Rhizomatous. Stigmas 3, the achene triangular. Double umbel; spikelets in digitate arrangement, few per cluster (usually 2-4), very flat. Look for flat spikelets in pairs or digitate clusters of 3.

Key to similar species

1. Plants rhizomatous; spikelets per cluster (1)2-4(6)…C. lecontei

1. Plants cespitose; spikelets per cluster usually 3-20…2

2. Sheath septate, viscous; achene > 1.4 mm long; spikelets per cluster 3-20(30)…C. elegans

2. Sheath not septate, not viscous; achene 1.2-1.4 mm long; spikelets per cluster (1)3-12(16)…C. compressus