Fimbristylis ovata

Fimbristylis ovata (Burm.f.) J.Kern, Blumea 15: 126 1967. (Syn: Abildgaardia compressa J.Presl & C.Presl; Abildgaardia indica (Rich. ex Pers.) Nees; Abildgaardia javanensis Gand.; Abildgaardia monostachya (L.) Vahl; Abildgaardia ovata (Burm.f.) Kral; Abildgaardia rottboelliana Nees; Carex ovata Burm.f.; Cyperus caribaeus Pers. [Illegitimate]; Cyperus indicus Rich. ex Pers.; Cyperus monostachyos L.; Fimbristylis compressa Fern.-Vill.; Fimbristylis monostachya (L.) Hassk.; Iria caribea Steud.; Iria indica (Rich. ex Pers.) Schult.; Iria monostachya (L.) Kuntze; Iriha monostachyos (L.) Kuntze; Scirpus monostachyus (L.) Kuntze; Scirpus schoenoides Roxb. [Illegitimate]; Xyris brasiliensis Spreng.);

Erect, tufted, rhizomatous perennials; rhizome short, knotty; culms 10-42 cm tall, slender, thickened at base, 3-sided, compressed. Leaves many, 8-26 cm long, 0.5-1 mm wide, slenderly linear, apex subacute, scabrid on upper margins; sheaths 1-5 cm long, straw-coloured. Inflorescence a single terminal spikelet, the lower most glume modified into a setaceous bract, 6-7 mm long. Spikelets 8-15 x 3-6 mm, ovate, acute, slightly compressed, yellow-green. Lower glumes distichous, lower 1-2 glumes empty, awned, the upper ones becoming more or less spirally imbricated, 3-6 x 2-4 mm, broadly ovate, boat-shaped, acute, mucronate, keeled, pale yellowish. Stamens 3. Stigmas 3. Nut 2-2.5 x 1.5-2 mm, obovate, trigonous, shortly stipitate, tuberculate, cream-white.

Flowering and fruiting: December-March

Wet grasslands and marshy areas

Pantropical

(Attributions- Dr. N Sasidharan (Dr. B P Pal Fellow), Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi

from India Biodiversity Portal)