Oxycaryum cubense
Bot. Not. 124: 281. 1971.
Illustrated
Basionym: Scirpus cubensis Poeppig & Kunth in C. S. Kunth, Enum. Pl. 2: 172. 1837
Stolons scaly, rooting at nodes or with long-hanging roots. Culms 7.5–76(–100) cm × 0.7–5 mm. Leaves elaminate proximally, laminate distally; blades (33–)50–70(–110) cm × (2–)4.5–5.5(–7) mm. Inflorescences with 1–13 heads, globose to broadly ovoid, 10–23 × 9–19 mm; spikelets 5–many. Spikelets 3–6 × 2.5–6 mm; scales transparent to pale brown with red-brown or purple marks, ovate to oblong, apex acuminate. Achenes pale or red-brown, ovoid or ellipsoid, 2.2–2.8 × 1–1.2 mm; beak to 0.7 mm.
Phenology: Fruiting spring–fall.
Habitat: Lakes and streams, floating, or raft-forming, or along margins
Elevation: 0–50 m
Distribution
Ala., Fla., La., Tex., Mexico, West Indies (Cuba), Central America, South America, Africa.
Discussion
The named variants of Oxycaryum cubense appear to represent extremes of this morphologically plastic species.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.