Cyperaceae -- the sedge family (70-100/4000-9300; cosmopolitan)
Habit herbs (rarely shrubs), often semiaquatic; rhizomatous; stems are typically triangular, internodes filled with pith
Leaves alternate or basal; usually three-ranked; simple and entire; leaf bases with closed sheath surrounding stem; linear, parallel venation; ligulate or eligulate; blades flat, terete, triangular or absent
Inflorescences one to many spikelets aggregated into clusters (racemose, paniculate, often umbels). Each spikelet organized on a central rachilla to which the bracts/flowers are attached. Flowers subtended by a bractlet and perianth reduced to bristles or absent
Special floral characters the gynoecium in Carex (and a few close relatives to Carex) is surrounded by a second bract termed a perigynium that is a hollow, sac-like structure
Perianth reduced to bristles (rarely scales) or absent
Androecium 1-3 (4-many) stamens, distinct
Gynoecium 2 or 3 carpels, connate; superior with 1 locule and 1 basal ovule; style 1, with 2 or 3 branches
Fruit= achene
(Floral formula: A 3 G 2 or 3 )