The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family is large, with some 5,500 known species described in about 90 genera, the largest being the "true sedges" genus Carex with over 2,000 species.
Rhynchospora is a genus of about 400 species of sedges with a cosmopolitan distribution. The genus includes both annual and perennial species, mostly with erect 3-sided stems and 3-ranked leaves. The achenes bear a beak-like tubercule and are sometimes subtended by bristles. Many of the species are similar in vegetative appearance, and mature fruits are needed to make a positive identification.
Bambusa vulgaris, common bamboo, is an open-clump type bamboo species. It is native to Indochina and to the province of Yunnan in southern China, but it has been widely cultivated in many other places and has become naturalized in several regions. Among bamboo species, it is one of the largest and most easily recognized.
Tragus, commonly called bur gras, burr grass or carrot-seed grass, is a genus of plants in the grass family. It is native to Africa, Australia, and Eurasia with several species on islands in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans plus one species in Argentina.
Rhynchospora alba, the white beak-sedge, is a plant in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It is a tufted herbaceous perennial around 50 cm tall, with white inflorescences that flower in August. The fruit of the sedge is a small achene with a characteristic beak-like cap. It is dispersed by wind or falls by gravity, leading to individuals existing in tight clumps. The species favours wet, acidic and nutrient poor soils, thriving in Sphagnum-dominated bogs, but also peaty grasslands. As such it is often used as a positive indicator for bog and mire ecosystem health.
Fimbristylis miliacea, the grasslike fimbry or hoorahgrass, is a species of fimbry that probably originated in coastal tropical Asia but has since spread to most continents as an introduced species. It is a widespread weed in some areas and is sometimes problematic in rice paddies.
Rhynchospora capitellata is a species of sedge known by the common names brownish beaksedge and brownish beaked-rush. It is native to eastern North America and a few spots in the western United States. It grows in wet habitat, such as swamps, springtime meadows, and moist areas in forests. It is a perennial herb producing clumps of stems 20 to 100 centimeters tall, each stem sheathed with several narrow, pointed leaves. The inflorescence is a cluster of brown spikelets each about 3 or 4 millimeters long.
Rhynchospora knieskernii is a rare species of sedge known by the common name Knieskern's beaksedge. It is endemic to the state of New Jersey in the United States, where it occurs naturallyin the Pine Barrens. Reports have cited it present in Delaware as well, but these populations appear to have been introduced. It is threatened by the destruction and degradation of its habitat. It is a federally listed threatened species of the United States.
Setaria palmifolia is a species of grass known by the common names palmgrass, highland pitpit, hailans pitpit, short pitpit, broadleaved bristlegrass, and knotroot. In Spanish it is called pasto de palma and in Samoan vao 'ofe 'ofe. It is native to temperate and tropical Asia. It is known elsewhere as an introduced, and often invasive, species, including in Australia, New Zealand, many Pacific Islands, and the Americas.
Hyparrhenia rufa is a species of grass known by the common names jaraguá, jaraguá grass, and giant thatching grass. It is native to Africa and it is widespread in the world as a cultivated forage and fodder for livestock and a naturalized and sometimes invasive species.
Rhynchospora megaplumosa, the Manatee beaksedge, is a plant species endemic to a small region in central Florida. It is known from only 4 Counties: Polk, Hillsboro, Manatee and Sarasota. It generally grows on sandy soil in pine woodlands.
Brachiaria mutica is a species of grass known by the common names para grass, buffalo grass, Mauritius signal grass, pasto pare, malojilla, gramalote, parana, Carib grass, and Scotch grass. Despite its common name California grass, it does not occur in California; it is native to northern and central Africa and parts of the Middle East, where it is cultivated for fodder. It was introduced elsewhere and it is now cultivated throughout tropical regions of the world for this purpose.
Rhynchospora capillacea is a species of sedge known by the common names needle beaksedge, slender beakrush and needle beakrush. It is native to eastern North America from Labrador to Alberta, and south to Texas. It grows in wet, usually calcareous habitat, such as fens, sandy or stony shores, interdunal flats, and wet meadows It is a perennial herb producing clumps of stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, each stem with very narrow, filiform leaves. The inflorescence consists of few (1-4) narrow brown spikelets each about 6 or 7 millimeters long.
Rhynchospora rariflora, commonly called fewflower beaksedge, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family (Cyperaceae). It is native to North America, where it is found in the southeastern United States, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the West Indies. Its typical natural habitat is sandy or peaty areas, in wet savannas, seeps, and bogs.
Rhynchospora inexpansa, commonly called nodding beaksedge, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family (Cyperaceae). It is native to North America, where it is found in the southeastern United States and West Indies. Its typical natural habitat is in moist meadows, flatwoods, and pond edges. It is a weedy species that responds positively to ecological disturbance.
Rhynchospora corymbosa, known by the common names of golden beaksedge and matamat, is a member of the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It is a perennial herb, found globally throughout the tropics. It grows up to 2 meters tall in riverbanks, shallow pools, and swamps.
Rhynchospora rugosa, known by the common name of claybank beaksedge, is a member of the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It is a perennial herb, native to Central and South America.
Rhynchospora holoschoenoides, known by the common name of fly beaksedge, is a member of the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It is a perennial herb, found throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America and western and southern Africa.
Rhynchospora chapmanii, known by the common name of Chapman's beaksedge, is a member of the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It is a perennial herb, found in wetlands of the southeastern United States from North Carolina to Louisiana, as well as in Belize, Cuba, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Rhynchospora gracillima is a widespread species of sedge.
