Cyperus exaltatus

Stout tussock-forming perennial. Culms trigonous, smooth, 100–180 cm high, to 8 mm diam. Leaves not septate-nodulose, as long as culms or longer, 5–15 mm wide. Inflorescence compound, with 5–10 primary branches to 18 cm long; spikes narrow-cylindric, 2–5 cm long, 0.5–1.5 cm diam.; involucral bracts leaf-like, 4–6 to 90 cm long. Spikelets flattened, numerous per spike, 4–18 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, 6–44-flowered; rachilla broadly winged, persistent; glumes obtuse, mucronate, with sides ± nerveless, yellow to dark yellow-brown, 1.5–2.0 mm long; stamens 3; style 3-fid. Nut trigonous, ellipsoid, yellow-brown, less than one-half as long as glume, 0.6–0.8 mm long, 0.3–0.5 diam. Flowers spring–summer.