Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structure of the Cyperaceae Inflorescence

  • Published:
The Botanical Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This work presents the basics for interpreting the adult inflorescence structure in Cyperaceae. It provides an analysis of the variations of the synflorescence and inflorescence structure in the family. Three types of synflorescence may be recognized in this family: a synflorescence with a foliate stem, a terminal inflorescence and a variable number of lateral inflorescences; a synflorescence with a foliate stem and only the terminal inflorescence; and a synflorescence with a scape and a terminal inflorescence. Variations in the structure and form of the inflorescences are related to variations in inflorescence branching, inflorescence homogenization degree, presence or absence of the distal part of the inflorescence, phyllotaxis, inflorescence position, types of bracts and leaves subtending branches, elongation of inflorescence internodes and spikelet structure. These variations are correlated with some of the developmental processes that give origin to the inflorescence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Ahumada, O. & A. C. Vegetti. 2009. Inflorescence structure in species of Scleria subgenus Hypoporum and subgenus Scleria (Sclerieae-Cyperaceae). Plant Systematics and Evolution 281: 115–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albert, V. A., Gustafsson M. H. & Di Laurenzio L. 1998. Ontogenetic systematics, molecular developmental genetics, and the Angiosperm petal. Pp. 349–374. In: D. Soltis, P. Soltis & J. Doyle (eds.), Molecular Systematics of Plants II, Chapter 12. Kluwer Academic Press, Boston.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Alves, M. V. 2000. Abordagem Tipológica das Inflorescencias em Monocotiledóneas. Tópicos Atuais em Botánica. 51º Congreso Nacional de Botánica. Brasilia, DF. pp 17–22.

  • ——— 2003. Hypolytrum Rich. (Cyperaceae) nos Neotrópicos, Tese de Doutorado, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo

  • ———, M. Wanderley & W. W. Thomas. 2000. Typology of the inflorescence in species of Hypolytrum Rich., (Cyperaceae) from Brazil. Beitrage zur Biologie der Pflanzen 72: 59–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barros, M. 1969. Cyperaceae. In: M. Correa (ed.), Flora Patagónica T. VIII, Parte II. Colección Científica del INTA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blaser, H. W. 1941. Studies in the morphology of the Cyperaceae I. Morphology of flowers. A. Scirpoid genera. American Journal of Botany 28: 542–551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1944. Studies in the morphology of the Cyperaceae. II. The prophyll. American Journal of Botany 31: 53–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bortiri, E. & S. Hake. 2007. Flowering and determinacy in maize. Journal of Experimental Botany 58: 909–916.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Browning, J. & K. D. Gordon-Gray. 1999. The inflorescence in southern African species of Bolboschoenus (Cyperaceae). Annales Botanici Fennici 36: 81–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruhl, J. J. 1991. Comparative development of some taxonomically critical floral/inflorescence features in Cyperaceae. Australian Journal of Botany 39: 119–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1995. Sedge genera of the world: relationships and a new classification of the Cyperaceae. Australian Systematic Botany 8: 125–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cámara Hernández, J. 2001a. La polistiquia en las inflorescencias de las Poáceaes. Boletín de la Sociedad Argentina de Botánica 36: 9–10

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 2001b. Morfología de las inflorescencias de Diplachne y Leptochloa (Poaceae Boletín de la Sociedad Argentina de Botánica 36: 267–278

  • Camelbeke, K. 2002. Morphology and taxonomy of genus Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Tropical South America. Tesis Doctoral. Gent. Belgium.

    Google Scholar 

  • Celakovský, L. 1887. Über die ährchenartigen Partialinfloreszenzen der Rhyncosporeen. Berichte der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft 5: 148–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doust, A. N. & E. A. Kellogg. 2002. Integrating phylogeny, developmental morphology and genetics: a case study of inflorescence evolution in the “bristle grass” clade (Panicoideae: Poaceae). Pp 298–314. In: Cronk Q. C. B., R. M. Bateman & J. A. Hawkins (eds), Developmental Genetics and Plant Evolution. Ed. Taylor & Francis, London.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Eiten, L. T. 1976. Inflorescence units in the Cyperaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 63: 113–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goetghebeur, P. 1986. Genera Cyperacearum. Dr. Sci. Thesis, State University, Ghent.

  • ——— 1998. Cyperaceae. In: Kubitzki, K., H. Huber, P. J. Rusall, P. S. Stevens & T. Stüzel (eds), The families and genera of plants, 4: 141–190. Springer Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & A. Gröger. 1992. Studies in Cyperaceae II. The unispiculate species of Bulbostylis in the Americas. Dodonaea 60: 64–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guaglianone, E. R. 1970. Un nuevo carácter, útil en la distinción genérica entre Fimbrystilis Vahl y Bulbostylis Kunth (Cyperaceae). Darwiniana 16: 40–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1980. Contribución al estudio del género Rhynchospora Vahl (Cyperaceae) II. Darwiniana 22: 449–509.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1981. Contribución al estudio del género Rhynchospora Vahl (Cyperaceae) III. Darwiniana 23: 489–506.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1982. Contribución al estudio del género Rhynchospora Vahl (Cyperaceae). IV. Rhynchospora iberae nueva especie de América Austral. Darwiniana 24: 469–473.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1996. Cyperaceae. In: Lahitte, H. B. J. & A. Hurrell (eds), Las plantas hidrófilas de la isla Martín García Buenos Aires. Ser Informes 52: 70–96.

  • Guarise, N. J. & A. C. Vegetti. 2007. The Inflorescences structure of Cyperus L. section Luzuloidei Kunth (Cyperaceae). Plant Systematic and Evolution 271: 41–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ——— & ——— 2008. Processes responsible of the structural diversity of the Cyperaceae inflorescence: hypothetical evolutionary trends. Flora 203: 640–647.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haines, R. W. 1966. Prophylls and branching in Cyperaceae. Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society XXVI (113): 51–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & K. A. Lye. 1976. Studies in African Cyperaceae XlV. The genus Hellmuthia Steud. Botaniska Notiser 129: 61–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & ——— 1983. The sedges and rushes of East Africa. East African Natural History Society, Nairobi. 404 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinzen, F. A. & A. C. Vegetti. 1994. Typology of the Inflorescence in Cyperus corymbosus var. subnodosus and C. rotundus (Cyperaceae). Beiträge zur Biologie der Pflanzen 68: 263–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holttum, R. E. 1948. The spikelet in Cyperaceae. Botanical Review 14: 525–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kellogg, E. A. 2000. Molecular and morphological evolution in Andropogoneae. Pp. 149–158. In: W. L. Jacobs & J. E. Everett (eds.), Grasses: Systematics and Evolution (S.). CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia.

  • Kern, J. H. 1962. A new look at same Cyperaceae mainly from the tropical standpoint. Advancement of Science 19: 141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kern, V., N. Guarise & A. Vegetti. 2008. Typology of the inflorescence in Spartina (Poaceae: Eragrostoideae). Plant Systematic and Evolution 273: 51–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kukkonen, I. 1984. On the inflorescence structure in the family Cyperaceae. Annales Botanici Fennici 21: 257–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1986. Special features of the inflorescence structure in the family Cyperaceae. Annales Botanici Fennici 23: 107–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1994. Definition of descriptive terms for the Cyperaceae. Annales Botanici Fennici 31: 37–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucero, L. E., O. Ahumada, A. G. Reutemann & A. C. Vegetti. 2009. Filogenia morfológica de las especies sudamericanas de Scleria Bergius (Cyperaceae). XXXII Jornadas Argentinas de Botánica. Huerta Grande (Córdoba). Pp. 203.

  • Mattfeld, J. 1938. Das morphologische Wesen und die phylogenetische Bedeutung der Blumenblätter. Berichte der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft 56: 86–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • McSteen, P. 2009. Hormonal Regulation of Branching in Grasses. Plant Physiology 149: 46–55.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meert M. & P. Goetghebeur. 1979. Comparative floral morphology of Bisboeckelereae and Cariceae (Cyperaceae) on the basis of the anthoid concept. Bulletin de la Societe Royale Botanique de Belgique 112: 128–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meeuse, A. D. J. 1975a. Changing floral concepts: anthocorms, flowers, and anthoids. Acta Botanica Neerlandica 24: 23–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1975b. Interpretative floral morphology of the Cyperaceae on the basis of the anthoid concept. Acta Botanica Neerlandica 24: 23–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mora-Osejo, J. E. 1960. Beitträge zur Entwicklungsgeschichte und vergleichenden Morphologie der Cyperaceen. Beiträge zur Biologie der Pflanzen 35: 293–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1987. Estudios morfológicos, autoecológicos y sistemáticos en Angiospermas. Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Ser. J. Alvarez Lleras 1, Bogotá.

  • Muasya, A. M. 1998. A synopsis of Fuirena (Cyperaceae) for the flora of tropical East Africa. Kew Bulletin 53: 187–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———, D. A. Simpson, M. W. Chase & A. Culham. 1998. An assessment of suprageneric phylogeny in Cyperaceae using rcbL DNA sequences. Plant Systematics and Evolution 211: 257–271.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ———, ———, G. A. Verboom, P. Goetghebeur, R. F. Naczi, M. W. Chase & E. Smets. 2009. Phylogeny of Cyperaceae Based on DNA Sequence Data: Current Progress and Future Prospects. Botanical Review 75: 2–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pax, E. 1886. Beiträge zur Morphologie und Systematik der Cyperaceen. Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 7: 287–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payer, J. B. 1857. Traité d’organogénie comparée de la fleur. Masson: Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen, T. M. 1968. Cyperaceae. Pp. 315–421. In: Cabrera, A. L. (ed.), Flora de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. T. IV (I). Colección Científica del I.N.T.A. Buenos Aires.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perreta, M. & A. C. Vegetti. 2002. The inflorescence of Cyperus giganteus Vahl (Cyperaceae). Feddes Repertorium 113: 256–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———, J. Ramos & A. C. Vegetti. 2009a. Development and Structure of the Grass Inflorescence. Botanical Review 75: 377–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———, ———, J. C. Tivano & A. Vegetti. 2009b. Descriptive characters of growth form in Poaceae – an overview. Flora 206, in press.

  • Raynal, A. 1971. Quelques notes morphologiques sur les Cypéracées. Mitteilungen der Botanischen Staatssammlung München 10: 589–603.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinheimer, R. 2007. Desarrollo y tipología de la inflorescencia de especies sudamericanas de Brachiaria y Urochloa y sus implicancias sistemáticas y taxonómicas (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae). Tesis doctoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral

  • ——— & A. C. Vegetti. 2004. The inflorescence of South American species of Panicum subg. Phanopyrum sect. Laxa (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae). Beiträge zur Biologie der Pflanzen 73: 185–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & ——— 2008. Inflorescence diversity and evolution in the pck clade (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae). Plant Systematics and Evolution 275: 133–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———, R. Pozner & A. C. Vegetti. 2005. Inflorescence, spikelet, and floral development in Panicum maximum and Urochloa plantaginea (Poaceae). American Journal of Botany 92, 565–575.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reutemann A. G., N. J. Guarise, M. G. López & A. C. Vegetti. 2009. Structure of inflorescences of selected South American species of Abildgaardia Vahl, Bulbostylis Kunth and Fimbristylis Vahl (Abildgaardieae-Cyperoideae-Cyperaceae). Plant Systematic and Evolution 283: 93–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reznicek, A. A. 1990 Evolution in sedges (Carex, Cyperaceae). Canadian Journal of Botany 68: 1409–1432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, J. 2002. Flower and spikelet morphology in sawgrass, Cladium jamaicense Crantz (Cyperaceae). Annals of Botany 90: 361–367.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ———, J. J. Bruhl & K. L. Wilson. 2006. Flower or spikelet? Understanding the morphology and development of reproductive structures in Exocarya (Cyperaceae, Mapanioideae, Chrysitricheae). American Journal of Botany 93: 1241–1250.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rua, G. 1999. Inflorescencias. Bases teóricas para su análisis. Sociedad Argentina de Botánica. Buenos Aires. 100 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salariato, D., F. Zuloaga, L. Giussani & O. Morrone. 2010. Molecular phylogeny of the subtribe Melinidinae (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae) and evolutionary trends in the homogenization of inflorescences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 56: 355–369.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schönland, S. 1922. South African Cyperaceae. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 3, Pretoria, S. Africa.

  • Sell, Y. 1980. Physiological and phylogenetic significance of the direction of flowering in inflorescence complexes, Flora 169: 282–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimamoto, K. & J. Kyozuka. 2002. Rice as a model for comparative genomics of plants. Annual Review of Plant Biology 53: 399–419.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, D. A. 1992. A revision of the genus Mapania (Cyperaceae) . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1995. Relationships within Cyperales. Pp. 497– 509. In: Rudall P. J., P. J. Cribb, D. F. Cutler & C. J. Humphries (eds). Monocotyledons: systematics and evolution. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stebbins, G. L. 1974. Flowering Plants: Evolution above the species level. Belknap Press, Cambridge, M.A. 399 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strong, M. T. 2001. Novelties in Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae) from the Guianas. Novon 11:261–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, W. W. 1984. The systematics of Rhynchospora sect. Dichromena. Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 37: 1–116.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1992. A synopsis of Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae) in Mesoamerica. Brittonia 44: 14–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timonen, T. 1998. Inflorescence structure in the sedge tribe Cariceae (Cyperaceae). Publications in Botany from the University of Helsinki 26.

  • Troll, W. 1964. Die Infloreszenzen, Typologie und Stellung im Aufbau des Vegetationskörpers 1. Gustav Fischer. Jena.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & F. Weberling. 1989 . Infloreszenzuntersuchungen an monotelen Familien. G. Fischer, Stuttgart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, G. C. 1983. The taxonomy of Cyperus (Cyperaceae) in Costa Rica and Panama. Systematic Botany Monographs 2: 1–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1987. The genera of Cyperaceae in the SE United States. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 68: 361–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1994. Revision of the Mexican Species of Cyperus (Cyperaceae). Systematic Botany Monographs 43: 213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, C. S. & J. Grimes. 1999. The inflorescence: introduction. Botanical Review 65, 303–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vegetti, A. 1992. Typology of the inflorescence in species Schoenoplectus (Cyperaceae) in Austral America. Beiträge zur Biologie der Pflanzen 67: 241–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 1994. Typology of the Inflorescence in Species of Isolepis. Beiträge zur Biologie der Pflanzen 68: 21–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 2002. Typological reinterpretation of the inflorescences in Cariceae (Cyperaceae). Phyton 42: 159–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— 2003. Sinflorescence typology in Cyperaceae. Annales Botanici Fennici 40: 35–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & J. C. Tivano. 1991. Sinflorescence in Schizachyrium microstachyum (Poaceae). Beiträge zur Biologie der Pflanzen 66: 165–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & A. Anton. 1995. Some Trends of Evolution in the Inflorescence of Poaceae. Flora 190: 225–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & E. R. Guaglianone. 2005. Estructura de las Inflorescencias en especies de Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae) de América Austral. XXX Jornadas Argentinas de Botánica. Pp. 48.

  • Vollbrecht, E., P. S. Springer, L. Goh, E. S. Buckler & R. Martienssen. 2005. Architecture of floral branch systems in maize and related grasses. Nature 436: 1119–1126.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vrijdaghs, A. 2006. A floral ontogenetic approach to homology questions in non-mapanioid Cyperaceae. PhD thesis, Laboratory of Plant Systematics, K.U. Leuven, Belgium. 472 pp.

  • ———, P. Goetghebeur, E. Smets & P. Caris. 2003. The Schoenus L. spikelet a rhipidium? A floral ontogenetic approach. In: Bayer, C., S. Dressler, J. Schneider & G. Zizka (eds.) 16th International Symposium Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, 17th International Senckenberg Conference. Abstracts: 24. Palmarum Hortus Francofurtensis 7, Frankfurt am Main.

  • ———, ———, A. M. Muasya, E. Smets & P. Caris. 2004. The nature of the perianth in Fuirena (Cyperaceae). South African Journal of Botany 70: 587–559.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———, P. Caris, P. Goetghebeur & E. Smets. 2005a. Floral Ontogeny in Scirpus, Eriophorum and Dulichium (Cyperaceae), with special reference to the perianth. Annals of Botany 95: 1199–1209.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ———, P. Goetghebeur, A. M. Muasya, P. Caris & E. Smets. 2005b. Floral ontogeny in Ficinia Schrad. and Isolepis R. Br. (Cyperaceae), with focus on the nature and origin of the gynophore. Annals of Botany 96: 1247–1264.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ———, ——— & E. Smets. 2005c. Homology problems in cyperoid flowers: a floral ontogenetic approach. In: XVII International Botanical Congress, Abstracts. Vienna, Austria, 219.

  • ———, ———, ——— & P. Caris 2007. The Schoenus spikelet a rhipidium? A floral ontogenetic answer. Aliso 23: 204–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———, A. M. Muasya, P. Goetghebeur, P. Caris, A. Nagels & E. Smets. 2009. A floral ontogenetic approach questions of homology within the Cyperoideae (Cyperaceae). Botanical Review 75: 30–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———, 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. Annals of Botany 105: 555–571.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weberling, F. 1989. Structure and Evolutionary tendencies of Inflorescences in the Leguminosae. In: C. H. Stirton & J. L. Zarucchi (eds.). Advances in Legume Biology. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 29: 35–58.

  • Wilson, K. L. 1991 Systematic studies in Cyperus section Pinnati (Cyperaceae). Telopea 4: 361–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, S. 2001. A preliminary revision of the supraespecific classification of Kobresia Willd. (Cyperaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 135: 289–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, X., A. Marchant, K. L. Wilson, & J. J. Bruhl. 2004a. Phylogenetic relationships of Carpha and its relatives (Schoeneae: Cyperaceae) inferred from chloroplast trnL intron and trnL-trnF intergenic spacer sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31: 647–657.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ———, K. L. Wilson & J. J. Bruhl. 2004b. Sympodial structure of spikelets in the tribe Schoeneae (Cyperaceae). American Journal of Botany 91: 24–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Esperanza, Pcia. Santa Fe, Argentina

    Andrea Reutemann, Leandro Lucero, Nicolás Guarise & Abelardo C. Vegetti

  2. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Kreder 2805, S3080HOF, Esperanza, Provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina

    Andrea Reutemann, Leandro Lucero & Abelardo C. Vegetti

Authors
  1. Andrea Reutemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Leandro Lucero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nicolás Guarise
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Abelardo C. Vegetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abelardo C. Vegetti.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reutemann, A., Lucero, L., Guarise, N. et al. Structure of the Cyperaceae Inflorescence. Bot. Rev. 78, 184–204 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-012-9098-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-012-9098-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation