Cyperus flavicomus (Cyperaceae), long misnamed C. macrostachyos: a comprehensive taxonomic reassessment with annotated synonymy and voucher-backed global distribution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17348/jbrit.v20.i3.1487Schlagworte:
Cyperaceae, Cyperus flavicomus Michx, Cyperus macrostachyos Lam, synonymy, morphology, distribution, lectotype designationAbstract
The pantropical annual flatsedge widely known as Cyperus macrostachyos Lam. (Cyperaceae; Cyperus subg. Cyperus, former segregate genus Pycreus) has been described under no fewer than 30 names over the past two centuries, variously treated as one or two species, with no substantive consensus on circumscription or nomenclature. In North America, the species is instead recognized as C. flavicomus Michx. To resolve these discrepancies, we examined the protologues and, where available, original type material for all names currently or historically synonymized with C. macrostachyos s.l., supplemented by an extensive survey of digitized collections ascribed to the species and of broader Pycreus material from Africa and South Asia (ca. 2,000 specimens from 130 herbaria in total). We report three principal findings. First, the morphological variation historically used to separate the species into two taxa is attributable to characters that are either environmentally plastic or maturity-dependent, and does not warrant recognition of more than one species. Second, examination of the holotype and holotype fragment of C. macrostachyos reveals that the material is not conspecific with the pantropical species to which it has been applied since Hooper and Raynal (1969), but corresponds in all observable characters to the South Asian endemic C. puncticulatus Vahl. The “Ex Africa” locality cited by Lamarck (1791) could not be corroborated by any material among the extensive African collections surveyed; we render the type citation as “Uncertain locality (‘Ex Africa’ teste Lamarck 1791)” to reflect this. Third, the correct name for the pantropical species is C. flavicomus Michx. (1803)—first reinstated by Tucker (1985), here independently confirmed and extended to encompass the full synonymy. Conservation of C. puncticulatus Vahl against C. macrostachyos Lam. is recommended under Art. 14 of the ICN; a formal proposal will be submitted to Taxon. An annotated synonymy, revised description, and voucher-backed global distribution for C. flavicomus Michx. and lectotype designations for eleven names are provided.
Literaturhinweise
Baker, J.G. 1877. Flora of Mauritius and the Seychelles: a description of the flowering plants and ferns of those islands. L. Reeve & Co., London, U.K. p. 409. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54532138 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.139960
Bentham, G. & F. von Mueller. 1878. Flora Australiensis: a description of the plants of the Australian territory, Vol. VII. L. Reeve & Co., London, U.K. pp. 261–262. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.16515
Biodiversity Heritage Library. 2026. Available at: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/. Accessed April 2026.
Blatter, E. & C. McCann. 1934. Revision of the flora of the Bombay Presidency, part XXIII. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 37:15–35. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48185274 or https://lccn.loc.gov/48032581
Boeckeler, O. 1868. Die Cyperaceen des Königlichen Herbariums zu Berlin: Die Cypereen, Scirpeen und Hypolytreen. Linnaea 35(5–6):397–612. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/62622498
Boissier, E. 1884. Flora Orientalis: sive, enumeratio plantarum in Oriente a Graecia et Aegypto ad Indiae fines hucusque observatarum, Vol. V: Monocotyledoneae. Soc. Genev., Soc. Linn., London, U.K. p. 365. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.20323
Bostock, M., V. Ogievetsky, & J. Heer. 2011. D³ data-driven documents. IEEE Trans. Vis. Comput. Graph. 17:2301–2309. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2011.185
Britton, N.L. 1886. A preliminary list of North American species of Cyperus, with descriptions of new forms. Contr. Herb. Columbia Coll. 1:205–216. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5385696
Burman, N.L. 1768. Nicolai Laurentii Burmanni flora Indica: cui accedit series zoophytorum Indicorum, nec non prodromus florae Capensis. Amstelaedami, Apud Cornelium Haek. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39900464 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.60581
Camelbeke, K., P. Goetghebeur, M.S. Gonzalez-Elizando, D.M. Kearns, R. Kral, A.A. Reznicek, D.A. Simpson, M.T. Strong, W.W. Thomas, & G.C. Tucker. 2007. Cyperaceae. In: V. Funk, T. Hollowell, P. Berry, C. Kelloff, & S.N. Alexander, eds. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 55:1–584. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23493236
Chermezon, H. 1919. Révision des Cypéracées de Madagascar. Ann. Mus. colon. Marseille 27:29–87. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3392096
Clarke, C.B. 1886. On the Indian species of Cyperus; with remarks on some others that specially illustrate the subdivisions of the genus. J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21:1–202. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/176529
Clarke, C.B. 1894. Cyperaceae. In: J.D. Hooker, ed. The flora of British India. 6:587–748. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.678
Clarke, C.B. 1897. Distribution of three sedges. J. Bot. 35:71–73. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8976193
Cook, C.D.K. 1996. Aquatic and wetland plants of India. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. Pp. 94–96, 169–170.
Cyperaceae Working Group. 2025. Global Cyperaceae Database. Cyperus macrostachyos Lam. Available at: https://cyperaceae.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1680168. Accessed March 2026.
Dietrich, A. 1833. Species plantarum, exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus secundum system sexuale digestas: editio sexta, volumen secundum, seu tom. I. Pars. I. Sectio II. Berolini, impensis G.C. Nauck. p. 281. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59123975 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.7081
Dietrich, D.N.F. 1839. Synopsis plantarum: seu enumeratio systematica plantarum plerumque adhuc cognitarum cum differentiis specificis et synonymis selectis ad modum Persoonii elaborata, tomus primus. Sectio prima.—Classis I–V. B.F. Voigtii, Vimariae. p. 216. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/678847 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.168
Early, B.S., C.S. Reid, C.L. Mathey, & C. Doffitt. 2024. Louisiana coastal prairie vascular flora checklist with coefficients of conservatism for floristic quality assessments. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 18(2):389–430. https://doi.org/10.17348/jbrit.v18.i2.1374
Elliott, S. 1821. A sketch of the botany of South-Carolina and Georgia, in two volumes: Volume I. J. Hoff and J.R. Schenck, Charleston, S.C. Pp. 71–72. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.9508 or https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10166250
Engler, A. & K. Prantl. 1887. Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien nebst ihren Gattungen und wichtigeren Arten, insbesondere den Nutzpflanzen, unter Mitwirkung zahlreicher hervorragender Fachgelehrten begründet: Teil II, Abt. 2. V.W. Engelmann, Leipzig, Germany. p. 107. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.4635 or https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16792181
Forsskål, P. 1775. Flora Ægyptiaco-Arabica: sive descriptiones plantarum. Hauniæ, ex officina Mölleri. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/737948 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.41
García-Herrera, R., G.P. Können, D.A. Wheeler, M.R. Prieto, P.D. Jones, & F.B. Koek. 2005. CLIWOC: A climatological database for the world’s oceans 1750–1854. Climatic Change 73:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-005-6952-6
Govaerts, R. & D.A. Simpson, eds. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae: Sedges. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, U.K. Pp. 382, 389, 606.
Govindarajalu, E. 1978. The systematic anatomy of South Indian Cyperaceæ: Cyperus L. subg. Pycreus (Pal. Beauv.) C.B. Cl. Adansonia. sér. 2, 18(1):95–128. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59851755
Gray, A., S. Watson, & J.M. Coulter. 1889. Manual of the botany of the northern United States, including the district east of the Mississippi and north of North Carolina and Tennessee: Sixth Edition. American Book Company, New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago, U.S.A. Pp. 569–570. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.21259
Guarise, N.J. & A.C. Vegetti. 2008. The inflorescences structure of Cyperus L. section Luzuloidei Kunth (Cyperaceae). Pl. Syst. Evol. 271:41–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-007-0590-6
Haines, R.W. & K.A. Lye. 1983. The sedges and rushes of East Africa: a flora of the families Juncaceae and Cyperaceae in East Africa, with a particular reference to Uganda. East African Natural History Society, Nairobi. Pp. 288–289.
Henry, R.D. 2004. Kyllinga pumila Michx. (Cyperaceae) type locality in Illinois: a short note. Trans. Illinois State Acad. Sci. 97(2):79. https://ilacadofsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/097-09MS-2404-print.pdf
Hoenselaar, K., B. Verdcourt, & H.J. Beentje. 2010. Cyperaceae. In: H.J. Beentje, ed. Flora of tropical East Africa. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, U.K. P. 466. https://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/books/03_Flora_of_Tropical_East_Africa.pdf
Hooper, S.S. & J. Raynal. 1969. New species and names in African Pycreus P. Beauv. (Cyperaceae). Kew Bull. 23:313–314. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4108983
Hooper, S.S. 1972. Pycreus P. Beauv. In: J. Hutchinson, J.M. Dalziel, & F.N. Hepper, eds. Flora of West Tropical Africa, 2nd ed., vol. 3, part 2. Millbank, London, U.K. Pp. 298–303. https://archive.org/details/floraofwesttropi0000hutc_m2v7
iDigBio.org. 2026. Available at: https://beta-portal.idigbio.org/portal/search. Accessed March 2026.
Internet Archive. 2026. Available at: https://archive.org/. Accessed April 2026.
JSTOR Global Plants. 2026. Available at: https://plants.jstor.org/. Accessed April 2026.
Kees, J.C., J.R. Carter, & A.S. Weakley. 2025. Key to Cyperus. In: Flora of the Southeastern United States. Available at: https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-taxon-detail.php&lsid=urn:lsid:ncbg.unc.edu:taxon:{2A44EE15-1036-40CD-9724-9945F879398E}. Accessed 16 March 2026.
Kew Data Portal. 2026. Available at: https://species.data.kew.org/. Accessed April 2026.
Kern, J.H. 1974. Cyperaceae. Flora Malesiana ser. 1 7(3):435–753. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28624609 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.40744
Koch, K. 1848. Belträge zu einer Flora des Orientes: Cyperoideae, Sanergräser. Linnaea Bd. 21:609–624. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/110560
Komarov, V.L. & B.K. Shischkin, eds. 1935. Flora of the U.S.S.R., Vol. III. Botanicheski? institut (Akademii Nauk SSSR), Mifal tirgume ha-mada ha-Yisreeli., and Smithsonian Libraries, Israel Program for Scientific Translation, Jerusalem. p. 8. https://lccn.loc.gov/63061623 or https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30058955
Koyama, T. 1977. The Cyperaceae tribe Cypereae of Ceylon. Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore. [ser. 4] 30:123–164. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43593842 or https://biostor.org/reference/160057
Krauss, F. 1845. Pflanzen des Cap- und Natal-Landes, gesammelt und zusammengestellt. Flora 28:753–766. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40762
Kükenthal, G. 1935–1936. Cyperaceae – Scirpoideae – Cypereae. In: H.G.A. Engler, ed. Das Pflanzenreich. IV, 20(Heft 101):1–671. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/22004067 or https://lccn.loc.gov/04002748
Kunth, C.S. 1837. Enumeratio plantarum II. Cyperographia synoptica, sive enumeration Cyperacearum omnium hucusque cognitarum, adjectis characteribus, differentiis et synonymis. J.G. Cotta, Stuttgart and Tübingen. Pp. 15–16. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.67381
Lamarck, J.-B.-P.-A. 1791. Tableau encyclopédique et méthodique des trois re?gnes de la nature. Botanique. Panckoucke, Paris, France. p. 147. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.218
Larridon, I., K. Bauters, M. Reynders, W. Huygh, A.M. Muasya, D.A. Simpson, & P. Goetghebeur. 2013. Towards a new classification of the giant paraphyletic genus Cyperus (Cyperaceae): phylogenetic relationships and generic delimitation in C4 Cyperus. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 172:106–126. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12020
Larridon, I., K. Bauters, M. Reynders, W. Huygh, & P. Goetghebeur. 2014. Taxonomic changes in C4 Cyperus (Cypereae, Cyperoideae, Cyperaceae): combining the sedge genera Ascolepis, Kyllinga, and Pycreus into Cyperus s.l. Phytotaxa 166(1):33–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.166.1.2
Mesterházy, A., J. Browning, & F. Verloove. 2022. Cyperaceae of tropical West Africa. Meise Botanic Garden, Meise, Belgium. P. 399. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18466704
Michaux, A. 1803. Flora Boreali-Americana, sistens caracteres plantarum quas in America septentrionali collegit et detexit Andreas Michaux: Tome I. Levrault, Paris and Strasbourg, France. Pp. 27–28. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.5088
Mitchell, R.S. & G.C. Tucker. 1997. Revised checklist of New York State plants. The Univ. of the State of New York, State Education Department, Albany, U.S.A. p. 295. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54594389 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.140234
Mueller, F. von. 1874. LXXI: Cyperaceae. Fragm. 8:255–278. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/765307 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.287
Nees von Esenbeck, C.G. 1842. Florae Brasiliensis Cyperographia. In: C.F.P. von Martius, ed. Flora Brasiliensis 2(1):1–226. R. Oldenbourg, Munchen and Leipzig, Germany. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.454 or https://www.biodiversity library.org/page/134819
Palla. E. 1912. Cyperaceae in Adžaria et Lazistania Rossica (prov. Batum) a G. Woronow lectae. V?stn. Tiflissk. Bot. Sada 21:20–26. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4234145
Pereira-Silva, L., I. Larridon, A.R. de Oliveira Ribeiro, V.M. Santos, & R. Trevistan. 2022. Diversity and taxonomy of Cyperus (Cyperaceae) in the central-west region of Brazil. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 107:480–545. https://doi.org/10.3417/2022760
PLANTS Database. 2026. Available at: https://plants.usda.gov/. Accessed March 2026.
Plukenet, L. 1700. Almagesti botanici mantissa : plantarum novissime? detectarum ultra? millenarium numerum complectens, cui, tanquam pedi jam stantis columnae, plus inscribere fas est, cum indice totius operis ad calcem adjecto. Self-published, Londini, U.K. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59268274 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.166144
Poiret, J.-L.-M. 1806. Encyclopédie méthodique. Botanique. Tome Septie?me. Panckoucke / Chez H. Agasse, Paris, France. Pp. 259, 264, 268. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.824
POWO (Plants of the World Online). 2026. Cyperus macrostachyos Lam. Available at https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:305092-1. Accessed April 2026.
Raynal, J. 1971. Quelques notes morphologiques sur les Cyperacées. Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. München. 10:589–603. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/194139 or https://biostor.org/reference/185357 or https://lccn.loc.gov/67107917
Roemer, J.J. & J.A. Schultes. 1817. Caroli a Linné: Equitis systema vegetabilium secundum classes ordines genera species, cum characteribus, differentiis et synonymiis, volumen secundum: Galliae, botanicis illustribus viris, de amabill scientia et opere nostro, meritissimis. J.G. Cotta, Stuttgart, Germany. p. 206. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/719684 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.825
Rottbøll, C.F. 1773. Descriptionum et iconum rariores et pro maxima parte novas plantas illustrantium. Societatis Typographicae, Hafniae, Denmark. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10166057 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.9538
Sloane, H. 1707–1725. A voyage to the islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers, and Jamaica … illustrated with the figures of the things describ’d, which have not been heretofore engraved; in large copper plates as big as the life. Vol. I. B.M., London, U.K. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9360 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.642
Small, J.K. 1913. Flora of the southeastern United States, Second Edition. J.K. Small, New York, U.S.A. Pp. 163, 166. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2140892 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.3850
Steudel, E.G. 1821. Nomenclator botanicus enumerans ordine alphabetico nomina atque synonyma … plantis phanerogamis imposita. J.G. Cottae, Stuttgardtiae et Tubingae, Germany. p. 10. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32680691 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.47064
Steudel, E.G. 1841. Nomenclator botanicus enumerans ordine alphabetico nomina atque synonyma … plantis phanerogamis imposita, Second Edition, vol. II. J.G. Cottae, Stuttgardtiae et Tubingae, Germany. Pp. 470, 472. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/391223
Steudel, E.G. 1855. Synopsis Plantarum Glumacearum, Pars II. Cyperaceae. J. B. Metzler, Stuttgartaiae, Germany. Pp. 9–11. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44896010 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.83535
Svenson, H.K. 1943. Cyperaceae. In: R.E. Woodson & R.W. Schery, eds. Flora of Panama, Part II, Fascicle 2 (Cyperaceae– Cyclanthaceae). Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 30:281–324. https://doi.org/10.2307/2394273
Thiers, B. 2026. [continuously updated] Index herbariorum: a worldwide index of herbaria and associated staff where plant and fungal specimens are permanently housed. New York Botanical Garden Steere Herbarium. Available at: http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/. Accessed April 2026.
Torrey, J. 1836. Monograph of North American Cyperaceæ. G. P Scott & Co., New York, U.S.A. Pp. 253–254. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50202397 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.115381
Torrey, J. 1859. Botany of the boundary. In: W.H. Emory, ed. Report on the United States and Mexican boundary survey made under the direction of the secretary of the interior, Volume II, Part I. A.O.P Nicholson, Washington D.C., U.S.A. p. 226. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30339152 or https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.213
Tucker, G.C. 1983. Taxonomy of Cyperus (Cyperaceae) in Costa Rica and Panama. Syst. Bot. Monogr. 2:1–85. https://doi.org/10.2307/25027589
Tucker, G.C. 1985. Cyperus flavicomus, the correct name for Cyperus albomarginatus. Rhodora 87:539–541. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23314571
Turland, N.J., J.H. Wiersema, F.R. Barrie, K.N. Gandhi, J. Gravendyck, W. Greuter, D.L. Hawksworth, P.S. Herendeen, R.R. Klopper, S. Knapp, W.-H. Kusber, D.-Z. Li, T.W. May, A.M. Monro, J. Prado, M.J. Price, G.F. Smith, & J.C.Z. Señoret. 2025. International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Madrid Code). Regnum Vegetabile 162. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, U.S.A. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226839479.001.0001
Vahl, M. 1805. Enumeratio plantarum, vel ab alium, vel ab ipso observatum, cum earum differentiis specificis, synonymis selectis et descriptionibus succinctis. Volumen II. Impenis auctoris, & prostat apud J.H. Schubothe, Copenhagen, Denmark. Pp. 348–349, 360. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.7564
Vegetti, A.C. 2003. Synflorescence typology in Cyperaceae. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 40:35–46. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23726771
Vishnyakov, V.S. 2023. iNaturalist “research-grade” observation: Cyperus colchicus. Available at: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183831954. Accessed April 2026.
Vishnyakov, V.S. & F. Verloove. 2025. Cyperus colchicus K. Koch. In: E. Raab-Straube & T. Raus, eds. Euro+Med-Checklist Notulae, 18. Willdenowia 55:119–122. https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.55.10
Vrijdaghs, A., M. Reynders, I. Larridon, A.M. Muasya, E. Smets, & P. Goetghebeur. 2010. Spikelet structure and development in Cyperoideae (Cyperaceae): a monopodial general model based on ontogenetic evidence. Ann. Bot. 105:555–571. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcq010
Wild, H. & C. McEwen. 1961. Harmful aquatic plants in Africa and Madagascar. Kirkia 2:1–66. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23501108
Downloads
Veröffentlicht
Zitationsvorschlag
Ausgabe
Rubrik
Lizenz
Copyright (c) 2026 Botanical Research Institute of Texas
Dieses Werk steht unter der Lizenz Creative Commons Namensnennung - Nicht-kommerziell - Keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International.
