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.