Cyperus odoratus.commons.wikimedia.org (Accessed 4/2014).

Cyperus odoratus is an annual C4 sedge (Li et al. 1999), stout, 10-80 cm tall. Flowering stalks (rays) 3-10, 2-10 cm long, branched.

Leaves 0.2-0.8 cm wide, inflorescence bracts much longer than flowering stem. 

Flower spikes linear, cylindrical 1-2 cm long, becoming brownish, 5-20 flowers, scales to 0.3 cm, tip overlapping base of next scale, axis winged, eventually separating between each flower.

Fruit an achene; wings enfolding each achene, achenes 3-sided, to 0.2 cm long;  blooms and fruits Aug.-Oct. 

Wetland status: FACW. 

Frequency in NYC: Rare (NYS S3, U). 

Origin: Native. 

Habitat: Wet soil, tolerant of brackish water.