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Ricefield Flat Sedge

Cyperus iria

Non-Native

Ricefield Locations in North America
Ricefield Locations in Southeast US
ricefield flat sedge diagram

ricefield flat sedge

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.

What is Ricefield Flat Sedge?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Crowded near the base
  • Shorter than the stem

Flowers:

  • 1.5-4.72 inches long
  • 100-600 spikelets total
  • About 4 bracts

Spikelets:

  • 0.13-0.39 inches long
  • 0.05-1.5 inches wide
  • 2-22 flowers
  • Brownish or golden brown in color

Fruit:

  • Dry
  • Does not open to release seed when ripe
  • 3-angled
  • About 0.05 inches long

Stem:

  • Hollow stems
  • 3.16-24 inches long

Where Does it Grow?

Non-Native

Ricefield flat sedge can be found in wet clay in coastal rice-growing areas, in water of freshwater canals, and on the edge of ponds.

Pros and Cons of Ricefield Flat Sedge

Ricefield flat sedge is non-native to the United States, and tends to disrupt the ecosystem by pushing the native species out of their habitat.

This plant is not native to North America, but has naturalized in much of the United States. While it is not illegal to possess this plant in Texas, it should not be introduced into new water bodies and should be treated with herbicide when present.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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