Cyperus ovatus Baldwin

PINEBARREN FLATSEDGE

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This is a taxonomically difficult group for which several taxa may be recognzied. Godfrey & Wooten (1979: 262) state "C. retrorsus, as here conceptualized, is a polymorphic complex [that] we fail to be able satisfactorily to delimit segregate taxa specifically or subspecifically" and that it is "sometimes difficult to distinguish from and perhaps grades into, C. [croceus]". They did not mention the name C. ovatus. Two entities commonly distinguished are C. ovatus s.str. (inflorescence bracts divaricate or horizontal, floral scales ascending or appressed, yellow-stramineous or stramineous, achene elliptic or oblong-fusiform and sometimes acute at the apex) and C. retrorsus (inflorescence bract ascending, floral scales appressed, reddish brown or brown to stramineous, achenes oblong or oblong-ellipsoid with a cuneate base and subacute apex) (Tucker et al. 2002: 183-184, 187; Reid et al. 2014). Based on ITS data, a specimen of C. ovatus s.str. from Hamilton Co., FL was sister to a group containing 3 samples identified as C. retrorsus from NC and LA, a sample of C. tetragonus from GA, and a sample of C. retroflexus from LA (Reid et al. 2014).

Native FACU (NWPL) FAC (DEP)