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Kyllinga gracillima — pasture greenhead-sedge

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Facts

Pasture greenhead-sedge is an exotic species of muddy stream- and river-sides in Connecticut. It is the only member of its genus in New England. It is distinguished from other members of the sedge family (Cyperaceae) by its rounded, unbranched heads of dense, short spikes, each of which has the spikelets arranged in a herringbone pattern (distichous).

Habitat

Brackish or salt marshes and flats, floodplain (river or stream floodplains), shores of rivers or lakes

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
  • aquatic
  • wetlands
New England state
Connecticut
Stem shape in cross-section
the stem is roughly triangular in cross-section
Leaf blade width
1–3.5 mm
Leaf blade cross-section
the leaf blade is flat or rolled in at the edges
Inflorescence position
  • the inflorescence appears to come from the side of the plant because the involucral bract at its base looks like an extension of the main stem
  • the inflorescence is at the tip of the plant
Inflorescence branching
  • the inflorescence is branched
  • the inflorescence is on one or more stems with no branches
Fruit type (general)
the fruit is like a seed, and surrounded by scales
Fruit length
1.5–1.8 mm
Leaf position on plant
the attachment points of all the leaves are at or near the base of the plant
Perianth composition
there is no perianth on the plant
Fruit cross-section
the fruit is biconvex or elliptic (widest in the middle and tapering to both ends) in cross-section
Show all characteristics
  • Flowers

    Anther length
    0.8–1.1 mm
    Floral bristle color
    NA
    Floral bristle number
    0
    Floral bristle relative length
    NA
    Floral bristles
    NA
    Floral scale hairs
    there are no hairs on the floral scales
    Floral scale length
    1.8–3.2 mm
    Floral scale nerves
    2-5
    Floral scale shape
    the floral scales are elliptic (widest in the middle and tapering toward each end)
    Flower number per cluster
    more than 20
    Inflorescence bract angle
    the bracts are angled outwards near horizontal or reflexed downwards
    Inflorescence bract number
    there are two to five bracts per inflorescence
    Inflorescence bract position (Sparganium)
    NA
    Inflorescence bracts
    there are at least two bracts, and they are either flat or folded or rolled in at the edges
    Inflorescence branching
    • the inflorescence is branched
    • the inflorescence is on one or more stems with no branches
    Inflorescence crowding
    the inflorescence is crowded together in one tight cluster
    Inflorescence position
    • the inflorescence appears to come from the side of the plant because the involucral bract at its base looks like an extension of the main stem
    • the inflorescence is at the tip of the plant
    Inflorescence shape
    the aggregations within the inflorescence are roughly circular (not flattened) in cross-section
    Inflorescence type
    there are two or more flowers, spikes or flower clusters on a branched inflorescence
    Perianth composition
    there is no perianth on the plant
    Stamen number
    • 2
    • 3
    Stigma number
    2
    Style division
    the top two thirds of the style is divided
    floral bristle barbs
    NA
    plantlets budding at flower bases
    no
  • Fruits or seeds

    Achene surface texture
    the achene has very tiny pits or depressions on it
    Achene tubercle relative width
    NA
    Achene tubercle width
    0 mm
    Capsule relative length
    NA
    Fruit cross-section
    the fruit is biconvex or elliptic (widest in the middle and tapering to both ends) in cross-section
    Fruit length
    1.5–1.8 mm
    Fruit type (general)
    the fruit is like a seed, and surrounded by scales
    Fruit type (specific)
    the fruit is an achene (dry, seed-like fruit) without a tubercle (a swelling or projection, usually of a different color or texture)
    Locules in capsule
    NA
    Seed length
    0 mm
    Seed tail relative length
    0 mm
    Seed tails
    NA
    Tubercle height
    0 mm
  • Growth form

    Lifespan
    the plant lives more than two years
    Underground organs
    the plant has a rhizome (a horizontal underground stem with roots growing from it)
  • Leaves

    Leaf blade cross-section
    the leaf blade is flat or rolled in at the edges
    Leaf blade length
    100–300 mm
    Leaf blade width
    1–3.5 mm
    Leaf form
    all the leaves hold their form out of water
    Leaf position on plant
    the attachment points of all the leaves are at or near the base of the plant
    Leaf septa
    the leaf blades do not have transverse septa
    Leaf sheath hairs
    the leaf sheathes are without hairs
    Pedicel length (Typha)
    0 mm
    Stem leaf blade ligules
    there are no ligules at the leaf blade bases
    Stem leaf blades
    there are fully-developed leaves with leaf blades on the main stem
    Width of seed-producing inflorescence
    6–10 mm
  • Place

    Habitat
    • aquatic
    • wetlands
    New England state
    Connecticut
    Specific habitat
    • brackish or salt marshes and flats
    • river or stream floodplains
    • shores of rivers or lakes
  • Stem, shoot, branch

    Plant height
    10–50 cm
    Stem shape in cross-section
    the stem is roughly triangular in cross-section
    Stem texture near tip
    the stem feels smooth near the tip

Wetland status

Usually occurs in wetlands, but occasionally in non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACW)

In New England

Distribution

Connecticut
present
Maine
absent
Massachusetts
present
New Hampshire
absent
Rhode Island
absent
Vermont
absent

Conservation status

None

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

1.  Kyllinga gracillima Miq. E

pasture greenhead-sedge. Cyperus brevifolioides Thieret & Delahoussaye • CT. Stream shores, tidal river shores and coves, usually on muddy substrate.

Native to North America?

No

Synonyms

  • Cyperus brevifolioides Thieret & Delahoussaye

Family

Cyperaceae

Genus

Kyllinga