Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 2716294

Globe Flatsedge

Cyperus echinatus

Also known as Globe Sedge

Globe flatsedge forms neat, tufted clumps in sunny fields, open woods, and sandy meadows across the eastern United States. It gets its name from its distinctive spherical flower heads, which feature tightly packed, spiky spikelets radiating outward like miniature maces. As a resilient perennial sedge, it offers shelter for tiny ground-nesting invertebrates and helps anchor soil along grassy slopes.

NativeSedgePerennial
Globe Flatsedge reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Sunlight
  • Water
  • Soil Nutrients
Predators
  • Herbivorous Insects
  • Grazing Mammals
  • Waterfowl
ThreatsSevere habitat loss, aggressive invasive turfgrass competition
HabitatsSunny fields, roadsides, mesic open woods, grassland meadows
Life spanPerennial
Classification
  1. OrderPoales
  2. FamilyCyperaceae
  3. GenusCyperus
  4. SpeciesCyperus echinatus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Identification: Look for solid, triangular stems topped by tight, spherical green seed heads.
  • Habitat Spotting: Search along open roadsides, field margins, and sunny mesic grasslands.
Related species
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