lye, K.A. (1995) Cyperaceae in Flora of Somalia 4: 98-147
Plants annual or perennial grass-like herbs, rarely tree-like; perennial species with short or long rhizomes or stolons; stems usually solid, triangular, flattened, or terete, rarely 4-angled or multi-angled, sometimes septate. Leaves often 3-ranked, usually with closed sheaths and linear blades, blades sometimes absent or reduced to aminute limb. Inflorescences open or congested anthelas (umble-like structures) or panicles of spikelets, often surrounded by conspicuous leafy bracts, sometimes reduced to a solitary spikelet. Flowers inconspicuous, unisexual or bisexual, each subtended by a bract ("glume" in Flora of Somalia) arranged in spikelets of 1-200 flowers;perianths of 3-6, rarely more, hairs, bristles or scales or absent; stamens usually 1-3, rarely 4-6; ovaries os 1 carpel of 2-3 united carpels, rarely more, superior, 1-celled; styles with 2-3 branches, rarely more or unbranched. Fruits small nuts or achenes, sessile or seated on a disc, usually free but in Carex enclosed by modified prophylls;; seeds 1 perovary, seed wallthin, not adhering to the ovary wall.
The family Cyperaceae includes about90 genera and 4000 species. Its species are most abundant in the tropics and subtropics but the largest genus, Carex, is most common in temperate regions.
Global Carex Group. 2015. Making Carex monophyletic (Cyperaceae, tribe Cariceae): a new broader circumscription. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 179: 1-42.
