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Rio Grande Flat Sedge

Cyperus floribundus

Rio Grande Flat Sedge Locations in North America
Rio Grande Flat Sedge Locations in Southeast US

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

What is Rio Grande Flat Sedge?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Number of leaves vary

Flowers:

  • Grow in dense mass
  • Many spikelets growing in rows

Fruit:

  • Dry
  • Does not open to release seed when ripe
  • Could be round & bulging on both sides
  • Could be 3-angled
  • Light brown in color

Stem:

  • Hollow stems
  • 3-angled

Where Does it Grow?

Rio Grande flat sedge can be found in moist places rooted in mud.

Pros and Cons of Rio Grande 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.

How to Manage This Plant
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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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