Glossary for Cyperaceae
For terms not listed here, see the Plant Glossary.
- Achene
- A hard, one-seeded, indehiscent nutlet with a tight pericarp.
- Bract
- A reduced leaf or scale, typically one which subtends a pedicel or inflorescence, but it also can refer to minute leaves on a stem.
- Bristle
- A stiff hair.
- Culm
- The stem of grasses, sedges, and rushes.
- Inflorescence
- The discrete flowering portion or portions of a plant; a flower cluster.
- Perianth
- Pertaining to the floral series of sepals, petals, or both, spoken of collectively.
- Perianth bristles
- Pertaining to perianth parts (petals, sepals) that are reduced to a set of bristles.
- Perigynium
- Referring specifically to the often inflated sac which encloses the ovary, and later the achene in the genus Carex.
- Pistillate
- Referring to flowers or spikelets which bear pistils but not stamens.
- Scale
- Generally a thin, sometimes papery, much reduced, leaf, bract, or perianth part.
- Spikelet
- A secondary or small spike of flowers.
- Staminate
- Referring unisexual flowers or spikelets which bear stamens but not pistils.