Carex cryptostachys Brongn.

Brongniart, A.T. in Duperrey, L.I. (1833) Voyage Autour du Monde. Botanique 2: 152, t.25. Type: Offack dans lile Waigiou, lune des iles des Papous.

Tufted sedge with an elongated rhizome clothed in fibrous remains of the leaf sheaths.

Leaves bright rich green, longer than inflorescence; flat with 2 prominent raised veins parallel to midrib, margins scabrid, 3-18 mm wide; leaf sheath finely ciliate.

Flowering stems obtusely trigonous 10-50 cm tall with sheaths and peduncles from base; lax flowered with 6-30 spikelets; male part of inflorescence much shorter than female part; bracts shorter than spikelets; glumes ovate, amplexicaul, many-nerved, obtuse, ciliolate, apiculate; utricles obscurely trigonous, broadly stipitate, abruptly shortly beaked with an oblique, bidentate mouth. Style papillose. Stigmas three.

Nut trigonous with the faces excavated at the base and the apex, broadly stipitate and seated on a spongy disc-like body about 2 mm long; beak short and deflexed

Features not available.

Occurs in CYP (rarely recorded) and in NEQ. Altitudinal range from 25-770 m. Found on the rainforest floor and along creeks in rainforest. Also occurs in Malesia.