Cyperus mirus C.B.Clarke

Clarke, C.B. (1908) Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information. Additional Series 8 : 4. Type: not cited.

Densely tufted perennial with short rhizomes, stems 4-angled, 15-30 cm tall.

Leaves shorter than the inflorescence, leaf blades terete in cross-section, narrowly canaliculate, 20-45 x 0.8 mm.; base of leaves clothed in reddish brown many-nerved sheaths.

Inflorescences consist of 1-3 (usually 2) sessile spikes aggregated together and subtended by 3-4 linear involucral bracts 30-50 mm long. Spikes ovoid, 5-14 mm long with 6-30 flowers. spikelets arranged in a distichous fashion, 6-12 -flowered. Glumes 1.8-2 mm long, keel green, very prominent, with 4 prominent longitudinal veins; apices of glumes excurved. The glumes of a flower tend to overlap those of the next flower on the spike. Anthers ca. 0.2 mm long, filaments ca. 1 mm long. Ovary 0.6-0.8 mm long. Styles or stigmas 3. Ovule solitary.

Nut trigonous, obovoid to ovate, black, with prominent striations and trabeculate, pointed at apex; length of glume.

Features not available.

Occurs in NEQ and in south eastern Queensland and into New South Wales. Altitudinal range from 150-1000 m. Grows in rainforest, notophyll vine forest, Eucalypt forest and in woodland.

Can become a weed of cultivation (Wilson 1993).