Cyperus pilosus Vahl

Vahl, M.H. (1805) Enumeratio Plantarum 2: 354. Type: Habitat in India orientali.

Fuzzy flatsedge

Rhizomatous annual or short-lived perennial; culms solitary, triquetrous and winged in the upper part, 7-120 cm tall

Leaves shorter to as long as the culms, 4-12 mm wide; leaf sheath with prominent thick and raised midrib on abaxial surface, withering without disintegrating into fibers.

Inflorescence with 3-10 primary branches which are up to 15 cm long; involucral bracts leaf-like, 3-5, much longer than the inflorescence; spikes ovoid to cylindrical, 2-3 cm long; rachis densely pilose. Spikelets flattened, 6-25 per spike, 1.5-2.5 mm wide, 7-40 -flowered. Glume with 2 prominent veins on either side of the slightly thickened keel, 2-2.5 mm long, with broad whitish margins in upper part.

Nut rhomboid to ovate, triquetrous, apiculate with a smooth testa, about ½- length of glume, dark brown to black.

Features not available.

Occurs in NT, NEQ, CEQ and south to northern New South Wales. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 950 m. Grows in rainforest, mesophyll and notophyll vine forest, Melaleuca swamps and along rivers and creeks. Also from Africa, Malesia, Asia to Japan.

Becomes a weed iof cultivation (Koyama 1979).