|Cyperus polystachyos flower head|
Sedges include many wild marsh and grassland plants, and some cultivated ones such as water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) and papyrus sedge (Cyperus papyrus). These species are widely distributed, with many in tropical Asia and tropical South America. Sedges may be found growing in almost all environments. Many are wetlands, or have poor soils. Ecological communities dominated by sedges are known as sedgelands.
Features distinguishing members of the sedge family from grasses or rushes are stems with triangular cross-sections (with occasional exceptions) and leaves that are spirally arranged in three ranks (grasses have alternate leaves forming two ranks).
References[change | change source]
- Govaerts R. 2007. World Checklist of Cyperaceae: Sedges. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 978-1-84246-199-0
- Milne, Lorus Johnson & Milne, Margery Joan Greene 1975. Living plants of the world. Random House, 301
- Hipp, Andrew L. 2007. Nonuniform processes of chromosome evolution in sedges (Carex: Cyperaceae). Evolution 61, 2175–2194. 
- "Grasslike non-grasses". http://www.backyardnature.net/fl_caryx.htm.
- Ball P.W; Reznicek A.A. & Murray D.F. Cyperaceae Jussieu in Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Flora of North America, vol 23, Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-515207-4 
- Speer, Brian R. 1995. Glumiflorae: more on morphology. University of California, Berkeley .