The members of the Cyperaceae [sedges, rushes, spike rushes, etc.] native to Iowa following the work of Eilers and Roosa [1994].

The following information is sorted in ascending order alphabetically by "Scientific Name".


The following Cyperaceae are native or naturalized in Iowa.

Scientific
Name
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Author
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Subspecific Category
[Eilers & Roosa]		 Common
Name		 Family
[FNA]		 Scientific
Name
[FNA]		 Author
[FNA]		 Subspecific
Category
[FNA]		 Habitat Abundance & Distribution Geographic Areas of
Iowa Occupied		 US
Native?		 IA
Native?		 Special
Notes
. . . . Cyperaceae Carex austrina Mack. . . . . . . [= Carex muhlenbergii Schukuhr ex Willd. var. australis Olney ex Bailey. E&R includes C. muehlenbergii, but not this var.
. . . . Cyperaceae Carex complanata Torrey & Hooker . . . . . . Not listed in Eilers & Roosa.
. . . . Cyperaceae Carex echinata Murray ssp. echinata . . . . . Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. See Carex cephalantha below.
. . . . Cyperaceae Carex formosa Dewey . . . . . . Not listed in Eilers & Roosa.
. . . . Cyperaceae Carex intumescens Rudge . . . . . . Not listed in Eilers & Roosa.
. . . . Cyperaceae Carex missouriensis Rothrock & Reznicek . . . . . . Not listed in Eilers & Roosa.
. . . . Cyperaceae Carex radiata (Wahl.) Small . . . . . . E&R includes this taxon as a synonym for Carex rosea var. radiata. From FNA [vol. 23, p. 288] "The name Carex rosea has frequently been misapplied to C. radiata."
. . . . Cyperaceae Carex torta Boott . . . . . . Not listed in Eilers & Roosa.
. . . . Cyperaceae Cyperus lupulinus (Spreng.) Marchs ssp. macilentus (Fern.) Marcks . . . . . Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. FNA includes 2 vars. for this taxon, but recognizes only ssp. macilentus from Iowa. FNA lists Cyperus filiculmis Vahl. var. macilentus Fern. as an older synonym.
. . . . Cyperaceae Eleocharis elliptica Kunth . . . . . . Not listed in Eilers & Roosa.
. . . . Cyperaceae Eriophorum viridicarinatum (Engelm.) Fern. . . . . . . Not listed in Eilers & Roosa.
. . . . Cyperaceae Schoenoplectus pungens (Vahl.) Palla . . . . . . Not listed in Eilers & Roosa.
. . . . Cyperaceae Scirpus georgianus Harper . . . . . . Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. FNA lists Scirpus atrovirens Willd. var. georgianus (Harper) Fern. as an older synonym.
Bulbostylis capillaris (L.) C. B. Clarke . Hair sedge Cyperaceae Bulbostylis capillaris (L.) C. B. Clarke . Dry, open, sandy soil. Rare to infrequent in E. NE, EC, SE Yes Yes .
Carex aggregata Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex aggregata Mack. . Moist, open ground. Algific talus slopes. Rare in C [Story County], NE [Allamakee & Clayton Counties], & SW [Page County]. C, SW Yes Yes .
Carex albursina Sheldon . . Cyperaceae Carex albursina Sheldon . Moist, rocky, wooded slopes. Frequent to common in E. Rare to infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex alopecoidea Tuckerman . . Cyperaceae Carex alopecoidea Tuckerman . Low prairies. Moist uplands. Rare in lakes area, SE, & in SC. NW, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Carex amphibola Steudel var. turgida Fern. . Cyperaceae Carex grisea Wahl. . Alluvial woods. Infrequent in N 1/2. Infrequent to common in S 1/2. All Yes Yes .
Carex annectens (Bickn.) Bickn. var. xanthocarpa (Bickn.) Wieg. . Cyperaceae Carex annectens (Bickn.) Bickn. . Moist areas. Edges of marshes. Sedge swales. Rare to infrequent in SW 3/4. NC, NW, EC, C, WC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Carex aquatilis Wahl. . . Cyperaceae Carex aquatilis Wahl. var. substricta Kukenthal Moist prairies. Fens. Rare in NW & in C. NW, C Yes Yes .
Carex artitecta Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex albicans Willd. ex Sprengel var. albicans Sandy soil along lakeshores. Rare in SW, SE, & in lakes area. NW, SE, SW Yes Yes .
Carex assiniboinensis W. Boott . . Cyperaceae Carex assiniboinensis W. Boott . Moist woods & lake margins. Rare in N. NE, NC, NW Yes Yes .
Carex atherodes Sprengel . . Cyperaceae Carex atherodes Sprengel . Marshes. Lake margins. Frequent to common in C & in lakes area. Rare to infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex backii F. Boott . . Cyperaceae Carex backii F. Boott . Dry, wooded slopes. Rocky or sandy soil. Rare in NW [Emmet County] & in NE [Allamakee, Dubuque, and Winneshiek Counties]. NE, NW Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex bebbii (Bailey) Fern. . . Cyperaceae Carex bebbii (Bailey) Olney ex Fern. . Prairie swales. Moist woods. Infrequent in N 1/2. Rare in S 1/2. All Yes Yes .
Carex bicknellii Britton . . Cyperaceae Carex bicknellii Britton . Prairies. Frequent in W 3/4. Rare in E. All Yes Yes .
Carex blanda Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex blanda Dewey . Mesic woodlands. Common throughout. All Yes Yes .
Carex brevior (Dewey) Mack. ex Lunell . . Cyperaceae Carex brevior (Dewey) Mack. ex Lunell . Loess bluffs. Prairie remnants. Common in W & in SE. Frequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex bushii Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex bushii Mack. . Wet roadsides. Moist, sandy areas. Rare in SE [Davis (1939), Lee, & Wapello (1939) Counties]. Rare in SW [Page County]. SE, SW Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex buxbaumii Wahl. . . Cyperaceae Carex buxbaumii Wahl. . Moist prairies. Fens. Rare to infrequent in E 3/4. All Yes Yes .
Carex careyana Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex careyana Torrey ex Dewey . Moist, wooded slopes. Rare in NE & in EC. NE, EC Yes Yes .
Carex cephalantha (Bailey) Bickn. . . Cyperaceae Carex echinata Murray ssp. echinata Fens. Rare in NC [Hancock County]. NC Yes Yes FNA does not list C. cephalantha. However, the PLANTS database [http://plants.usda.gov/] & other online references list this plant as Carex echinata Murray ssp. echinata. The name C. echinata ssp. echinata confirmed by A. Reznicek at MICH [pers. comm.]..
Carex cephaloidea (Dewey) Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex cephaloidea (Dewey) Dewey . Open, upland woods. Wooded slopes. Rare to infrequent in E 3/4. All Yes Yes .
Carex cephalophora Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex cephalophora Muhl. ex Willd. . Mesic woods. Low prairies. Frequent to common in SE 3/4. NE, NC, EC, C, WC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Carex chordorrhiza Ehrh. ex. L. f. . . Cyperaceae Carex chordorrhiza Ehrh. ex. L. f. . Fens. Sphagnum fens. Rare in NW [Emmet County (1884)] & NC [Hancock County]. NC, NW Yes Yes .
Carex communis Bailey . . Cyperaceae Carex communis Bailey . Wooded slopes. Rare in S 1/2 of state. Infrequent in Paleozoic Plateau. NE, EC, C, WC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex comosa Boott . . Cyperaceae Carex comosa Boott . Wet prairies. Frequent in lakes area. Rare elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex conjuncta Boott . . Cyperaceae Carex conjuncta Boott . Alluvial woods. Rare to infrequent throughout the state. All Yes Yes .
Carex conoidea Schkuhr ex Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex conoidea Willd. . Sandy swales. Prairie seeps. Rare in NE & EC. NE, EC Yes Yes .
Carex convoluta Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex rosea Schkuhr ex Willd. . Moist, upland woods. Wooded slopes. Common in N 1/2. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC Yes Yes .
Carex crawei Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex crawei Dewey . Dry prairies. Rare in NW [Emmet County (1904)], NC [Floyd County], & EC [Johnson County]. NC, NW, EC Yes Yes .
Carex crawfordii Fern. . . Cyperaceae Carex crawfordii Fern. . Moist sand. Rare in WC & in NW. NW, WC Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex crinita Lam. . . Cyperaceae Carex crinita Lam. . Low woods. Allluvial soils. Rare in EC [Linn County] & in SE [Jefferson County (1934)]. EC, SE Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex cristatella Britton . . Cyperaceae Carex cristatella Britton . Alluvial woods. Wet prairies. Rare in NW & E. Common in SW. Infrequent to frequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex crus-corvi Shuttlew. ex Kunze . . Cyperaceae Carex crus-corvi Shuttlew. . Marshes. Pond margins. Rare in NW. Infrequent in S 1/2. NW, EC, C, WC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Carex davisii Schwein. & Torrey . . Cyperaceae Carex davisii Schwein. & Torrey . Alluvial woods. Prairie swales. Rare in N 1/2. Frequent in S 1/2. All Yes Yes .
Carex deweyana Schwein. . . Cyperaceae Carex deweyana Schwein. var. deweyana North-facing, wooded slopes. Algific talus slopes. Infrequent in Paleozoic Plateau. Rare in lakes area & in C. NE, NW, EC, C Yes Yes .
Carex diandra Schrank . . Cyperaceae Carex diandra Schrank . Marshes. Wet meadows. Rare in C [Webster County (1909)], NW [Dickinson & Emmet (1925) Counties], NC [Cerro Gordo (1917) & Winnebago (1899) Counties], & EC [Johnson County (1941)]. NC, NW, EC, C Yes Yes .
Carex douglasii Boott . . Cyperaceae Carex douglasii Boott . Dry prairies. Rare in C [Jasper County (1904)]. C Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex eburnea Boott . . Cyperaceae Carex eburnea Boott . Open, rocky, wooded bluffs. Rare to infrequent in N 1/2 and SW. Frequent in E. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC, SE, SW Yes Yes .
Carex eleocharis Bailey . . Cyperaceae Carex duriuscula Meyer . Dry prairies. Gravel hills. Frequent in NW, especially in lakes area. NW Yes Yes .
Carex emoryi Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex emoryi Dewey . Sedge meadows. Fens. Rare in SW, in lakes area, & in Paleozoic Plateau. NE, NW, EC, SW Yes Yes .
Carex festucacea Schkuhr ex Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex festucacea Schkuhr ex Willd. . Sandy, open areas. Disturbed ground. Rare in NW [Dickinson County] & in SE [Louisa County]. NW, SE Yes Yes .
Carex foenea Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex foenea Willd. . Dry, rocky prairies. Rare in NW [Clay County (1936)]. NW Yes Yes FNA does not include Carex foenea in Iowa. From FNA regarding Carex siccata Dewey: "The name Carex foenea has, unfortunately, commonly been misapplied to the species in some recent literature."
Carex frankii Kunth . . Cyperaceae Carex frankii Kunth . Marshes. Low, wet soil. Rare in SE, SC, & in extreme E. NE, EC, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Carex gracilescens Steudel . . Cyperaceae Carex gracilescens Steudel . Dry woods. Wooded ravines. Rare in SE [Des Moines & Wapello (1938) Counties]. SE Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex gracillima Schwein. . . Cyperaceae Carex gracillima Schwein. . Mesic, wooded slopes. Alluvial woods. Rare in N, except frequent in Paleozoic Plateau. NE, NC, NW, EC Yes Yes .
Carex granularis Muhl. ex Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex granularis Muhl. ex Willd. . Moist, wooded ravines. Rare in NC. Infrequent in E 1/2. NE, NC, EC, C, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Carex gravida Bailey . . Cyperaceae Carex gravida Bailey . Low woods. Thickets. Prairies. Frequent to common throughout the state. All Yes Yes .
Carex grayi Carey . . Cyperaceae Carex grayi Carey . Alluvial woods. Infrequent in SE 2/3. NE, NC, EC, C, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Carex haydenii Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex haydenii Dewey . Moist prairies. Alluvial woods. Rare to infrequent in N 1/2. Rare in S 1/2. All Yes Yes .
Carex heliophila Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex inops Bailey ssp. heliophila (Mack.) Crins Dry prairies. Plains. Loess bluffs. Infrequent throughout the state. All Yes Yes .
Carex hirsutella Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex hirsutella Mack. . Open, upland woods. Frequent in SE. Rare in SC. Not reported elsewhere. SE, SC Yes Yes .
Carex hirtifolia Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex hirtifolia Mack. . Moist, wooded slopes. Common in Paleozoic Plateau. Infrequent to rare in NE 3/4. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Carex hitchcockiana Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex hitchcockiana Dewey . Moist, wooded, calcareous slopes. Frequent in lakes area. Rare to infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex hyalinolepis Steudel . . Cyperaceae Carex hyalinolepis Steudel . Railroad right-of-way. Rare in SW [Fremont County]. SW Yes Yes .
Carex hystericina Muhl. ex Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex hystericina Muhl. ex Willd. . Marshy areas. Fens. Alluvial woods. Common in NC. Infrequent to frequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex interior Bailey . . Cyperaceae Carex interior Bailey . Marshes. Fens. Low prairies. Rare to infrequent in E 2/3. NE, NC, EC, C, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Carex jamesii Schwein. . . Cyperaceae Carex jamesii Schwein. . Moist, north-facing talus slopes. Rare to infrequent in E 3/4. All Yes Yes .
Carex lacustris Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex lacustris Willd. . Marshes. Sedge swales. Frequent in NC. Rare in NW & in SE. NE, NW, SE Yes Yes .
Carex laeviconica Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex laeviconica Dewey . Marsh edges. Sedge swales. Low prairies. Rare in much of the state. Not reported from SE. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Carex laevivaginata (Keuk.) Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex laevivaginata (Kuek.) Mack. . Marshes. Moist woodlands. Rare to infrequent throughout the state. All Yes Yes .
Carex lanuginosa Michx. . . Cyperaceae Carex pellita Willd. . Moist prairies. Common in lakes area. Rare in extreme E. Infrequent to frequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes FNA regarding C. pellita: "It is sometimes subsumed under C. lasiocarpa, as var. latifolia (Boeckeler) Gilly, but it is distinct in the field and has a quite different biology and distribution."
Carex lasiocarpa Ehrh. var. americana Fern. Slender sedge Cyperaceae Carex lasiocarpa Ehrh. . Shallow water. Prairie swales. Fens. Rare in C, NW, EC, & SE. NW, EC, C, SE Yes Yes FNA lists no segregate varieties for this taxon.
Carex laxiculmis Schwein. . . Cyperaceae Carex laxiculmis Schwein. . Wooded talus slopes. Rare in SE 1/4. EC, C, SE, SC Yes Yes FNA includes 2 vars. in IA: var. laxiculmis & var. copulata (Bailey) Fern.
Carex leavenworthii Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex leavenworthii Dewey . Prairie openings. Frequent to infrequent in SE. Rare in NE. NE, SE Yes Yes .
Carex leptalea Wahl. . . Cyperaceae Carex leptalea Wahl. . Swales in sandy prairies. Rare in NE [Black Hawk & Buchanan Counties] & in EC [Benton County]. NE, EC Yes Yes .
Carex limosa L. . . Cyperaceae Carex limosa L. . Fens. Rare in NW [Emmet County (1892)] & in NC [Hancock County]. NC, NW Yes Yes .
Carex lupuliformis Sartw. ex Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex lupuliformis Sartw. ex Dewey . Pond & lake margins. Rare in SE [Lee County (1931)] & in SC [Decatur County (1900)]. SE, SC Yes Yes .
Carex lupulina Muhl. ex Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex lupulina Willd. . Alluvial woods. Marshes. Infrequent to frequent in E. Rare in NW. NE, NW, EC, SE Yes Yes .
Carex lurida Wahl. . . Cyperaceae Carex lurida Wahl. . Low prairies. Rare in C [Story County (1886)], SE [Jefferson (1945) & Lee (1931) Counties], & in SC [Mahaska County]. C, SE, SC Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex meadii Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex meadii Dewey . Prairie remnants. Rare in NW & in NE. Frequent to infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes From FNA [vol. 23, p. 431]: "Separating Carex meadii and C. tetanica can be problematic ... Due to confusion with Carex meadii, the geographic range of C. tetanica is not fully known."
Carex media R. Br. . . Cyperaceae Carex media R. Br. ex Richardson . Algific talus slopes. Rare in NE [Clayton & Delaware Counties]. Disjunct from northern Wisconsin. NE Yes Yes .
Carex molesta Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex molesta Mack. ex Bright . Prairies. Upland woods. Frequent in N, SC, & SW. Rare to infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex muhlenbergii Schkuhr ex Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex muhlenbergii Schkuhr ex Willd. . Dry, sandy prairies. Dry woodlands. Frequent in SE. Rare to infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes E&R and FNA include 2 varieties: var. muhlenbergii & var. enervis Boott.
Carex muskingumensis Schwein. . . Cyperaceae Carex muskingumensis Schwein. . Alluvial woods. marsh edges. Rare in N. Infrequent in S. All Yes Yes .
Carex normalis Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex normalis Mack. . Moist woods. Prairies. Frequent in NE. Infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex oligocarpa Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex oligocarpa Willd. . Moist, north-facing, wooded slopes. Frequent in Paleozoic Plateau. Rare to infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex peckii Howe . . Cyperaceae Carex peckii Howe . Algific talus slopes. Frequent in Paleozoic Plateau. NE, EC Yes Yes .
Carex pedunculata Muhl. ex Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex pedunculata Muhl. ex Willd. . Wooded talus slopes. Common in Paleozoic Plateau. Rare to infrequent in remainder of the NE 1/2 of the state. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, SE Yes Yes .
Carex pensylvanica Lam. . . Cyperaceae Carex pensylvanica Lam. . Upland woods. Wooded slopes. Common throughout the state. All Yes Yes .
Carex plantaginea Lam. . . Cyperaceae Carex plantaginea Lam. . Moist, north-facing wooded slopes. Rare in E. NE, EC, SE Yes Yes .
Carex praegracilis W. Boott . . Cyperaceae Carex praegracilis W. Boott . Moist prairies. Infrequent to rare in W 3/4. All Yes Yes .
Carex prairea Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex prairea Dewey . Fens. Frequent in lakes area. Rare in E. NE, NW, EC, SE Yes Yes .
Carex projecta Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex projecta Mack. . Alluvial woods. Wet prairies. Rare in E 1/2 & in NC. NE, NC, EC, C, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Carex retroflexa Muhl. ex Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex retroflexa Muhl. ex Willd. . Moist, open, sandy ground. Rare in EC [Jones County]. EC Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex retrorsa Schwein. . . Cyperaceae Carex retrorsa Schwein. . Wooded bluffs. Alluvial woods. Infrequent in NC. Rare in NE. NE, NC Yes Yes .
Carex richardsonii R. Br. . . Cyperaceae Carex richardsonii R. Br. . Dry, open, rocky places. Rare in C & in N. NE, NC, NW, C Yes Yes .
Carex rosea Schkuhr ex. Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex rosea Schkuhr ex. Willd. . Alluvial woods. Frequent to common in NW & in S. Rare in lakes area. NW, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes E&R lists C. rosea Willd. var radiata (Wahl.) Dewey as a synonym for C. rosea. FNA segregates C. rosea Willd. var. radiata (Wahl.) Dewey as Carex radiata (Wahl.) Small.
Carex rostrata Stokes ex Willd. var. utriculata (Boott) Bailey . Cyperaceae Carex rostrata Stokes ex Willd. . Prairie swales. Marshes. Rare in scattered sites throughout the state. All Yes Yes FNA lists no varieties for this taxon and does not include the plant in Iowa.
Carex sartwellii Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex sartwellii Dewey . Moist-to-wet prairies. Marshes. Fens. Infrequent throughout. All Yes Yes .
Carex saximontana Mack. . . Cyperaceae Carex saximontana Mack. . Dry woods. Prairies. Rare in WC [Woodbury County] & in NW [Lyon & Plymouth Counties]. NW, WC Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex scoparia Schkuhr ex. Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex scoparia Schkuhr ex. Willd. var. scoparia Sedge meadows. Marsh margins. Alluvial woods. Common in NE 1/4, except rare in Paleozoic Plateau. Infrequent to frequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex shortiana Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex shortiana Dewey . Low, moist woods. Frequent to infrequent in SE and SC. Rare in NE. NE, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Carex sparganiodes Muhl. ex Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex sparganiodes Muhl. ex Willd. . Moist woods. Infrequent to frequent throughout. All Yes Yes .
Carex sprengelii Dewey ex Sprengel . . Cyperaceae Carex sprengelii Dewey ex Sprengel . Upland woods. Thickets. Common in Paleozoic Plateau. Rare in SE. Frequent to infrequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex squarrosa L. . . Cyperaceae Carex squarrosa L. . Moist woodland depressions. Alluvial woods. Rare in SE. SE Yes Yes .
Carex sterilis Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex sterilis Willd. . Fens. Rare in NE [Buchanan, Chickasaw, Fayette, & Winneshiek Counties]. NE Yes Yes .
Carex stipata Muhl. ex Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex stipata Muhl. ex Willd. var. stipata Marshes. Prairies swales. Frequent in NC & in NE. Rare in SC & SW. NE, NC, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Carex stricta Lam. . . Cyperaceae Carex stricta Lam. . Alluvial woods. Marshes. Calcareous fens. Common in SW. Rare in SE & in extreme E. Infrequent to frequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Carex suberecta (Olney) Britton . . Cyperaceae Carex suberecta (Olney) Britton . Mudflats. Prairie swales. Infrequent in NC. Rare in NE, SE, & SW. NE, NC, SE, SW Yes Yes .
Carex sychnocephala Carey . . Cyperaceae Carex sychnocephala Carey . Marshes. Sandy areas. Infrequent in NW, expecially in lakes area. Rare in SE [Louisa County]. NW, SE Yes Yes .
Carex tenera Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex tenera Dewey . Wooded slopes. Not reported from EC & SE. Rare elsewhere. NE, NC, NW, C, WC, SC, SW Yes Yes FNA includes 2 varieties: var. tenera & var. echinodes (Fern.) Wieg.
Carex tetanica Schkuhr . . Cyperaceae Carex tetanica Schkuhr . Wet prairies. Marshes. Rare to infrequent in N 1/2. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC Yes Yes From FNA [vol. 23, p. 431]: "Separating Carex meadii and C. tetanica can be problematic ... Due to confusion with Carex meadii, the geographic range of C. tetanica is not fully known."
Carex tonsa (Fern.) Bickn. . . Cyperaceae Carex tonsa (Fern.) Bickn. . Sandy soil. Sand dunes. Rare in E. NE, EC, SE Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex tribuloides Wahl. . . Cyperaceae Carex tribuloides Wahl. var. tribuloides Marshes. Wet, sandy areas. Fens. Common in S 1/2. Infrequent in extreme E. Rare in NW. NE, NW, EC, C, WC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Carex trichocarpa Schkuhr . . Cyperaceae Carex trichocarpa Willd. . Wet sands or marshes. Rare throughout most of the state. All Yes Yes .
Carex tuckermanii Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex tuckermanii Dewey . Wet soil along rivers. Rare in C [Jasper County (1897)]. C Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex typhina Michx. . . Cyperaceae Carex typhina Michx. . Marshes. Alluvial woods. Rare in SE 2/3 of the state. NE, EC, C, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Carex umbellata Schkuhr ex Willd. . . Cyperaceae Carex umbellata Schkuhr ex Willd. . Sandy or rocky, dry prairies. Rare in NE [Allamakee & Dubuque Counties]. NE Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex vesicaria L. . . Cyperaceae Carex vesicaria L. . Sandy marshes. Lake margins. Infrequent in NC & NE. Rare in S 1/2. NE, NC, EC, C, WC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Carex vulpinoidea Michx. . . Cyperaceae Carex vulpinoidea Michx. . Low, moist ground. Alluvial woods. Common throughout the state. All Yes Yes .
Carex woodii Dewey . . Cyperaceae Carex woodii Dewey . Cool, north-facing talus slopes. Moist, wooded slopes. Infrequent to rare in NE. NE Yes Yes .
Cyperus acuminatus Torrey & Hooker . . Cyperaceae Cyperus acuminatus Torrey & Hooker . Often sandy, wet areas. Infrequent to rare in SW 2/3. NW, C, WC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Cyperus aristatus Rottb. . . Cyperaceae Cyperus squarrosus L. . Wet, usually sandy, areas. Frequent in NC. Infrequent in SW 1/2. Rare in E. All Yes Yes .
Cyperus diandrus Torrey . . Cyperaceae Cyperus diandrus Torrey . Wet sandy areas. Rare throughout most of the state. All Yes Yes .
Cyperus engelmanii Steudel . . Cyperaceae Cyperus odoratus L. . Moist, sandy edges of ponds & lakes. Rare in N 1/2. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC Yes Yes .
Cyperus erythrorhizos Muhl. . . Cyperaceae Cyperus erythrorhizos Muhl. . Moist, sandy or muddy, margins of streams, ponds, & lakes. Frequent in S. Infrequent to rare in N 1/2 & in E. All Yes Yes .
Cyperus esculentus L. . Yellow nut grass Cyperaceae Cyperus esculentus L. var. leptostachyus Boeckeler Shores. Marshes. Moist, disturbed soil. Frequent to common in S 1/2 & in NC. Infrequent to rare elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Cyperus filiculmis Vahl . . Cyperaceae Cyperus filiculmis Vahl . Dry, sandy soil. Common locally in extreme NE. Frequent in S 1/2. Rare elsewhere. All Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Cyperus odoratus L. var. squarrosus (Britton) Gilly . Cyperaceae Cyperus odoratus L. . Moist or wet soil. Frequent to common in NW. Infrequent in S 1/2. Infrequent to rare in NE 1/4. All Yes Yes FNA lists no subspecific categories for Cyperus odoratus L. and includes Cyperus englemannii Steudel within the circumscription of this taxon.
Cyperus rivularis Kunth . . Cyperaceae Cyperus bipartitus Torrey . Moist, open sand. Pond margins. Fens. Frequent to infrequent throughout the state. All Yes Yes .
Cyperus schweinitzii Torrey . . Cyperaceae Cyperus schweinitzii Torrey . Sandy areas. Dry prairies. Roadsides. Frequent to infrequent in NE 1/2. NE, NC, NW, EC, C, SE Yes Yes .
Cyperus strigosus L. . . Cyperaceae Cyperus strigosus L. . Moist, sandy shores. Marshy places. Wet prairies. Frequent to common throughout the state. All Yes Yes .
Dulichium arundinaceum (L.) Britton . Three-way sedge Cyperaceae Dulichium arundinaceum (L.) Britton var. arundinaceum Sandy, shallow marshes. Fens. Rare in NC, NE, SE, & SC. NE, NC, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Eleocharis acicularis (L.) R. & S. . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis acicularis (L.) R. & S. . Shallow water. Margins of ponds & lakes. Frequent to infrequent throughout most of the state. All Yes Yes .
Eleocharis atropurpurea (Retz.) Kunth . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis atropurpurea (Retz.) Presl & Presl . Sandy, moist areas. Rare in SE [ Jefferson (1933), Louisa, & Muscatine Counties]. SE Yes Yes .
Eleocharis compressa Sulliv. . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis compressa Sulliv. . Moist, sandy areas. Mesic prairies. Infrequent to rare throughout most of the state. All Yes Yes FNA includes 2 vars. in IA: var. compressa & var. acutisquamata (Buckley) Smith
Eleocharis engelmanii Steudel . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis engelmanii Steudel . Sandy or muddy shores. Praire swales. Common in Paleozoic Plateau. Frequent in NC & SC. Infrequent to rare elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Eleocharis erythropoda Steudel . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis erythropoda Steudel . Moist, open sand. Marshes. Margins of lakes. Frequent to common in W 1/2. Infrequent to rare in E 1/2. All Yes Yes .
Eleocharis macrostachya Britton . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis macrostachya Britton . Shallow water. Prairie swales. Frequent to common in NC & SC. Infrequent to rare in E. NE, NC, EC, SE, SC Yes Yes .
Eleocharis obtusa (Willd.) Schultes . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis obtusa (Willd.) Schultes . Sandy or muddy shores. Moist prairies. Common in Paleozoic Plateau. Infrequent to frequent elsewhere. All Yes Yes .
Eleocharis olivacea Torrey . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis flavescens (Poiret) Urbana var. olivacea (Torrey) Gl. Margins of lakes. Rare in EC [Johnson County]. EC Yes Yes .
Eleocharis ovata (Roth) R. & S. . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis ovata (Roth) R. & S. . Fens. Rare in NC [Hancock County]. NC Yes Yes .
Eleocharis parvula (R. & S.) Link var. anachaeta (Torrey) Svenson Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis coloradoensis (Britton) Gilly . Muddy or sandy shores. Rare in NW [Clay (1936) & Palo Alto (1940) Counties]. NW Yes Yes .
Eleocharis pauciflora (Lightf.) Link . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis quinqueflora (Hartmann) Schwarz . Sandy or muddy margins of lakes or marshes. Fens. Rare in NW [Dickinson & Emmet Counties]. NW Yes Yes .
Eleocharis smallii Britton . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis palustris (L.) R. & S. . Shallow water. Prairie swales. Frequent to common in NC. Infrequent to rare in NE. NE, NC Yes Yes .
Eleocharis tenuis (Willd.) Schultes . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis tenuis (Willd.) Schultes var. verrucosa (Svenson) Harms Wet prairies. Marshes. Rare throughout most of the state. All Yes Yes E&R includes 2 varieties: var. tenuis & var. verrucosa (Svenson) Harms. FNA includes var. verrucosa only.
Eleocharis wolfii Gray . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis wolfii (Gray) Gray ex Britton . Marshes. Seeps. Rare in NW [Emmet County (1886)], EC [Cedar & Johnson Counties], & SW [Union County]. NW, EC, SW Yes Yes .
Eleocharis xyridiformis Fern. & Brackett . Spike-rush Cyperaceae Eleocharis macrostachya Britton . Shallow, standing water. Rare in SW [Page County]. SW Yes Yes See comment 1 below.
Eriophorum angustifolium Honck. . Tall cotton-grass Cyperaceae Eriophorum angustifolium Honck. ssp. angustifolium Fens. Wet prairies. Sedge meadows. Infrequent in N 1/2. Rare in S. All Yes Yes .
Eriophorum gracile W.D.J. Koch . Slender cotton-grass Cyperaceae Eriophorum gracile W.D.J. Koch . Mashes. Sedge meadows. Fens. Rare in C [Webster County (1905)], NW [Dickinson & Emmet (1893) Counties], & NC [Cerro Gordo (1917) & Hancock Counties]. NC, NW, C Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Eriophorum virginicum L. . Cotton-grass Cyperaceae Eriophorum virginicum L. . Fens. Rare in NE [Buchanan County]. NE Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Fimbristylis autumnalis (L.) R. & S. . . Cyperaceae Fimbristylis autumnalis (L.) R. & S. . Sandy or muddy lake margins. Vernal pools. Rare in E. NE, EC, SE Yes Yes E&R includes 2 varieties: var. autumnalis & var. mucronulata (Michx.) Fern.
Fuirena simplex Vahl . Umbrella grass Cyperaceae Fuirena simplex Vahl . Moist soil. Rare in SW [Fremont County (1946)]. SW Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Hemicarpha micrantha (Vahl) Pax . . Cyperaceae Lipocarpha micrantha (Vahl.) Tucker . Streambanks. Lakeshores. Rare in NC & NE. Infrequent in SE. NE, NC, SE Yes Yes .
Rhyncospora capillacea Torrey . Beaked rush Cyperaceae Rhyncospora capillacea Torrey . Fens. Rare in N. NE, NC, NW Yes Yes .
Scirpus acutus Muhl. ex Bigelow . Hard-stemmed bulrush Cyperaceae Schoenoplectus acutus (Muhl. ex Bigelow) Love & Love . Shallow water. Margins of lakes. Marshes & streams. Frequent to common throughout most of the state. Rare in NE. All Yes Yes .
Scirpus americanus Pers. . Threesquare Cyperaceae Schoenoplectus americanus (Pers.) Volkart ex Schinz & Keller . Wet, sandy soil. Fens. Frequent in NC. Rare in NW. Rare to infrequent in SW 1/2. NC, NW, C, WC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Scirpus atrovirens Willd. . Dark green bulrush Cyperaceae Scirpus atrovirens Willd. . Wet places. Expecially margins of lakes, marshes, ponds, & streams. Common throughout. All Yes Yes .
Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth . Wooly bulrush Cyperaceae Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth . Sandy wetlands. Prairie swales. Marshes. Frequent to common in NE. Infrequent to rare in S. NE, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes E&R includes 4 varieties: var. cyperinus, var. brachypodus (Fern.) Gilly, var. rubricosus (Kunth) Gilly, & var. laxus(Gray) Beetle. FNA segregates var. brachypodus (Fern.) Gilly as Scripus atrocinctus Fern.
Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth var. brachypodus (Fern.) Gilly Wooly bulrush Cyperaceae Scirpus atrocinctus Fern. . Sandy wetlands. Prairie swales. Marshes. Frequent to common in NE. Infrequent to rare in S. NE, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Scirpus fluviatilis (Torrey) Gray . River bulrush Cyperaceae Bolboschoenus fluviatilis (Torrey) Sojak . Marshes. Shallow, standing water. Frequent to infrequent throughout most of the state. All Yes Yes .
Scirpus hallii Gray . . Cyperaceae Schoenoplectus hallii (Gray) Smith . Wet, sandy soil. Rare in SE [Louisa & Muscatine (1890) Counties]. SE Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Scirpus heterochaetus Chase . . Cyperaceae Schoenoplectus heterochaetus (Chase) Sojak . Marshes. Shallow, standing water. Infrequent to rare throughout most of the state. All Yes Yes .
Scirpus maritimus L. . Prairie bulrush Cyperaceae Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla ssp. paludosus (A. Nelson) T. Koyama Sandy lakeshores. Sloughs. Rare in NW [Dickinson & Palo Alto (1943) Counties]. NW Yes Yes .
Scirpus mucronatus L. . . Cyperaceae Schoenoplectus mucronatus (L.) Palla . Shallow, standing water. Rare in SW [Page County]. SW No No .
Scirpus pallidus (Britton) Fern. . Pale bulrush Cyperaceae Scirpus pallidus (Britton) Fern. . Prairie swales. Infrequent in W 1/2. NC, NW, C, WC, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Scirpus pedicellatus Fern. . . Cyperaceae Scirpus pedicellatus Fern. . Sandy wetlands. Prairie swales. Marshes. Rare in E [Muscatine, Scott, & Winneshiek (1933) Counties]. NE, EC, SE Yes Yes .
Scirpus pendulus Muhl. . . Cyperaceae Scirpus pendulus Muhl. . Edges of marshes. Wet prairies. Roadsides. Frequent to infrequent in NC & S. Rare in NE. NE, NC, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Scirpus smithii Gray . . Cyperaceae Schoenoplectus smithii (Gray) Sojak . Sandy shores. Rare in NC [Cerro Gordo County] & in NE [Delaware County]. NE, NC Yes Yes FNA does not include this plant in Iowa.
Scirpus torreyi Olney . . Cyperaceae Schoenoplectus torreyi (Olney) Palla . Marshes. Lake margins. Rare in EC [Clinton County (1878)]. EC Yes Yes .
Scirpus validus Vahl. var. creber Fern. Soft-stemmed bulrush Cyperaceae Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (Gmelin) Palla . Shallow, standing water. Frequent to common throughout most of the state. All Yes Yes .
Scleria triglomerata Michx. . Tall nut-rush Cyperaceae Scleria triglomerata Michx. . Moist prairies & alluvium. Infrequent to rare in E 1/2 & SW. NE, NC, EC, C, SE, SC, SW Yes Yes .
Scleria verticillata Muhl. ex Willd. . Low nut-rush Cyperaceae Scleria verticillata Muhl. ex Willd. . Fens. Rare in C [Grundy County], NW [Clay & Emmet Counties], & NE [Chickasaw & Fayette Counties]. NE, NW, C Yes Yes .

A total of 175 Cyperaceae have been recorded from the state of Iowa.

1. Regarding Eleocharis xyridiformis: Note the following from FNA [vol. 23, pp. 74-75]: "Although recognition of infraspecific taxa is premature, the following three intergrading variants are notable: Variant a (= Eleocharis xyridiformis) almost certainly deserves taxonomic recognition, perhaps as a species..."

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