Haspan Flat Sedge

Cyperus haspan

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Vol. 1: 303.

What is Haspan Flat Sedge?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

• Growing near the base of the plant
• Lower leaves bladeless
• Upper leaves with soft blades
• 0.39-4 inches long

Flowers:

• Flowering for the first year
• 1.5-4.75 inches long
• 10-15 stalks

Bracts:

• Usually 2
• One 0.3-2 times as long as the flower
• One not noticeable

Spikelets:

• 0.16-0.39 inches long
• About 0.05 inches wide
• Linear
• Brown in color
• 8-30 flowers

Fruit:

• Dry
• Does not open to release seed when ripe
• Spherical or oval shaped
• 3-angled
• 0.02-0.03 inches long
• About 0.02 inches thick
• Whitish in color
• Rough texture

Stem:

• Hollow stems
• 0.75-2.25 feet long
• 0.08-0.2 inches thick near base
• 0.06-0.13 inches thick below the flower
• 3-angled
• Soft
• Easily pressed flat

Where Does it Grow?

Haspan flat sedge can be found in moist areas, along streams, in wet meadows, and on seepage slopes.

Pros and Cons of Haspan Flat Sedge

Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.