Family · Monocots
Cyperaceae
Sedges, papyrus
Sedges: grass-like herbs typically with solid, triangular stems and leaves in three ranks.
- Accepted species
- 6,073accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 96accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈45 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Asia-Temperatemost native species · WGSRPD
Open Cyperaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Papyrus
- Nut sedge
- Cotton grass
- Carex
Largest genera
Carex2,349 spp.
Cyperus964 spp.
Rhynchospora394 spp.
Fimbristylis315 spp.
Eleocharis303 spp.
Scleria258 spp.
Bulbostylis221 spp.
Schoenus156 spp.
Mapania105 spp.
Ficinia92 spp.
Lepidosperma83 spp.
Schoenoplectiella75 spp.
Isolepis70 spp.
Hypolytrum63 spp.
Fuirena56 spp.
Machaerina52 spp.
Scirpus49 spp.
Gahnia41 spp.
Tetraria40 spp.
Cephalocarpus25 spp.
Schoenoplectus24 spp.
Eriophorum23 spp.
Trichophorum21 spp.
Lagenocarpus17 spp.
Oreobolus17 spp.
Bolboschoenus16 spp.
Costularia15 spp.
Diplacrum13 spp.
Asterochaete11 spp.
Tricostularia11 spp.
Abildgaardia10 spp.
Krenakia10 spp.
Calyptrocarya8 spp.
Coleochloa8 spp.
Caustis7 spp.
Paramapania7 spp.
Becquerelia6 spp.
Chorizandra6 spp.
Morelotia6 spp.
Scleroschoenus6 spp.
Carpha5 spp.
Chamaedendron5 spp.
Cyathochaeta5 spp.
Mesomelaena5 spp.
Trilepis5 spp.
Anthelepis4 spp.
Bisboeckelera4 spp.
Blysmus4 spp.
Chrysitrix4 spp.
Scirpoides4 spp.
Sumatroscirpus4 spp.
Actinoschoenus3 spp.
Chaetospora3 spp.
Cladium3 spp.
Cyathocoma3 spp.
Dracoscirpoides3 spp.
Phylloscirpus3 spp.
Trianoptiles3 spp.
Zameioscirpus3 spp.
Afrotrilepis2 spp.
The 36 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Asia-Temperate1,470
- Africa1,410
- Southern America1,318
- Northern America1,185
- Asia-Tropical986
- Australasia829
- Europe479
- Pacific190
- Antarctic33
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Cyperaceae sits in the order Poales.