819

Eleocharis retroflexa (Poir.) Urban ssp.

Synonym	:	Baeothryon retroflexum (Poir.)A.Dietr.
Family	:	Cyperaceae
Flowering and fruiting period	:	October-November
Distribution		Paleotropics
Distribution in Kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Marshy areas in grasslands and riversides
IUCN status		Least concerned
Key botanical Charcters :  Erect, tufted, non-rhizomatous annual herbs with pale brown fibrous roots; culms 5-14 cm long, filiform, mostly curved, 4-5-ribbed. Leaves reduced to bladeless sheaths; sheaths 1-2 cm long, membranous, reddish-brown, mouth acute, white-scarious. Inflorescence with a single terminal spikelet. Spikelets 3-4 x1.5-2.5 mm, broadly ovate-obtuse, compressed. Glumes distichous, 2.5-3 x 1.5-2 mm, ovate- elliptic, keeled, subacute, sides purplish, margins hyaline. Stamens 2 or 3. Style c. 1 mm long, style-base conical; stigmas 3. Hypogynous bristles 6, as long as or slightly exceeding the style base, scabrous. Nut c. 1 mm long, broadly obovate, trigonous with ribbed edges, trabeculate, slightly yellow.