Cyperus
Cyperus is a large genus of sedges in the family Cyperaceae. Its species include papyrus and many plants with open, branched inflorescences.
Cyperaceae: Cyperaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly called sedges, with often triangular stems and inconspicuous flowers. Cyperus is one of the family's largest genera.
Papyrus: Papyrus is a tall wetland sedge, Cyperus papyrus, whose stems were used to make an ancient writing material. It is the best-known member of Cyperus and a major historical material plant.
Cyperus esculentus: Cyperus esculentus is a perennial sedge grown for its edible, sweet-tasting tubers, known as tiger nuts. It illustrates how an agricultural crop belongs to this diverse genus.
Carex: Carex is a large genus of sedges whose female flowers are enclosed in distinctive saclike structures called perigynia. Unlike Cyperus, Carex is typically recognized by its perigynia.
Sedge: A sedge is a grasslike flowering plant in the family Cyperaceae, often distinguished by solid stems and three-ranked leaves. The genus is defined by its membership in this plant group.
Tiger nut: Tiger nut is the edible tuber of Cyperus esculentus, a sedge cultivated for food and drink. This species is an economically important edible Cyperus.
Cyperus rotundus: Cyperus rotundus is a persistent perennial sedge that spreads through rhizomes and tubers in warm regions. Its rapid spread exemplifies the weed potential of some Cyperus species.
Eleocharis: Eleocharis is a genus of sedges commonly called spikerushes, usually bearing a single terminal spikelet on each stem. Its simple, solitary spikelets contrast with many Cyperus species' branched inflorescences.
Spikelet: A spikelet is a small flower-bearing unit in grasses and many related plants, composed of flowers arranged along a short axis. Cyperus flowers are commonly grouped into spikelets.
Nutgrass: Nutgrass commonly names Cyperus rotundus, a perennial sedge with underground tubers and an extensive rhizome system. Its vigorous growth makes it one of the genus's most troublesome weeds.