Talk:Cyperaceae

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Genus order used here follows taxonomic order used in UK floras

[edit] How are sedges different from grasses and rushes?

I've heard that sedges have no leaves (only green stems). Is this true for all sedges? Is this not true for rushes? What other differences are there between sedges and rushes? Chira 02:07, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

I think they all have leaves, but sometimes the leaves look like stems. Here's a website that talks about how to tell them apart. [1] --Allen 02:19, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Here's another one [2] Seems that in most grasses the leaf's sheath around the stem is split, but not with most sedges Eug 10:11, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

All Eleocharis that I'm familiar with are "almost leafless" (undeveloped leaf sheath around the base of the stem) (one example: [3]). I see this doesn't apply to all sedges... are there any other easy ways we can distinguish them? I remember a botanist professor mentioning that grasses grow from the base rather than the tip (good for being grazed on), I wonder what growing habits sedges have. --Chira 14:30, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

Hmm, interesting. I've always been under the impression that sedges differ from grasses primarily because the sedge has a triangular stem and that the leaves grow from a central clump. Grass (I believe, I have not made a detailed study) grows from either a central clump or the stem. Also, grasses are usually adventitious, wheras sedges are not. I find the stems of sedges most interesting of all. It seems that the leaves clasp onto the stem as it grows, and then fall back as this unusual infloresence bursts forth with all the glory of a sedge. -Pasque 15:47, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

The triangular stem is what I've heard too. I've added this to the article (with some references). I'm sure there's more we could say on this subject with more research/expertise. Kingdon 14:43, 23 March 2007 (UTC)