Xyris torta.Donna Kausen.New England Wild Flower Society.gobotany.newenglandwild.org (Accessed 4/20140.

Xyris torta is a perennial monocotyledon herb to 80 cm in flower. 

Leaves alternate, grass-like, gray-green, basal, linear, 20-50 cm long, 0.2-0.5 cm wide, twisted, base thickened, 0.4-1 cm, hard, fleshy, brown or purplish, outer leaves often short, with dilated base, making plant appear bulbous. 

Flowers yellow, 3-parted, petals 0.4 cm long;, sepals 3, one larger, two with a hairy ridge down back, unopened flowers enclosed in a small overlapping brown bract; flower stem 15-80 cm tall, twisted, ridged; inflorescence of rounded, bract-covered heads 1-2.5 cm with many flowers; blooms July-Sept. 

Fruit dry. 

Wetland status: OBL. 

Frequency in NYC: Very infrequent. 

Origin: Native. 

Habitat: Wet, acid soil.