The overall relationship of genera within Cyperaceae is still controversial. Ongoing molecular phylogenetic investigations will probably clarify the generic limits and assess the number of genera. The most recent classifications of the Cyperaceae were established by Bruhl (1995) and Goetghebeur (1998). The current treatment roughly follows Goetghebeur l.c.

Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla (syn.: Scirpus maritimus L.) is here treated as a collective species. Recent studies distinguish five species in Europe (Hroudová & al. 2007). In addition to Bolboschoenus maritimus s.str. (primarily confined to saline habitats) at least one additional taxon occurs in Belgium, B. laticarpus Marhold, Hroudová, Zákravský & Duchácek. The latter is mainly an inland species, distributed along rivers. Its residence status is unclear but Bolboschoenus laticarpus most likely is a neglected native species. Other species of the Bolboschoenus maritimus-group possibly occur in Belgium (as overlooked natives or as non-natives) but additional research will be required. A Belgian record of Bolboschoenus yagara (Ohwi) A.E. Kozhevn. (Browning & al. 1996) in fact turned out to belong to B. laticarpus. See Hroudová & al. (2007) for the distinction of the five European representatives of Bolboschoenus.

Rhynchospora Vahl counts two native species in Belgium, both confined to marshy acidic soils. At least one, Rhynchospora fusca (L.) Ait., was recently recorded in a nature reserve in Wingene, outside its current native distribution range (probably introduced accidentally by naturalists; see Stieperaere 1997).

Schoenoplectus (Reichenb.) Palla counts four native species in Belgium. The two commonest, Schoenoplectus lacustris (L.) Palla (syn.: Scirpus lacustris L.) and S. tabernaemontani (C.C. Gmel.) Palla (syn.: Scirpus tabernaemontani C.C. Gmel.), are often introduced deliberately (as ornamentals, for sewage treatment or land reclamation). Schoenoplectus pungens (Vahl) Palla was formerly believed to be an American xenophyte but it is native in western Europe (including Belgium) as well.

Scirpoides holoschoenus (L.) Soják (syn.: Scirpus holoschoenus L.) is a very rare native species. Two more or less distinct subspecies have been recorded. The usual, doubtlessly native taxon is subsp. holoschoenus. A second taxon, subsp. australis (L.) Soják, was formerly recorded in man-made habitats (levelled soil) near Antwerpen. Its residence status is somewhat unclear (see also Desfayes 2004).

Pycreus, in this account still given generic rank, is better included in a broadly circumscribed genus Cyperus (Laridon & al. 2013).

1. All flowers unisexual. Flowers and achenes (at least partially) enclosed in a perigynium (utricle) === Carex

1. All flowers bisexual. Flowers and achenes not enclosed in a perigynium === 2

2. Stem hollow. Leaves harshly scabrid, with saw-edged margins (native) === Cladium

2. Stem solid (often with soft pith). Leaf margins not strongly saw-edged === 3

3. Perianth with numerous bristles (>6), transforming into a conspicuous cottony head at maturity (native) === Eriophorum

3. Perianth not transforming into a cottony head === 4

4. Inflorescence of one terminal spikelet, without bract(s) at base === 5

4. Inflorescence of at least two spikelets or, if inflorescence of one spikelet, then with a stem- or leaf-like bract at base (spikelet apparently lateral) === 7

5. Plant very leafy with grass-like leaves, usually floating in water. Stem branched (native) === Isolepis p.p. (incl. Eleogiton)

5. Plant without grass-like leaves (most leaves reduced to sheaths). Stem not branched === 6

6. Uppermost leaf sheath with a short blade. Perianth bristles antrorsely barbed (native) === Trichophorum

6. Uppermost leaf sheath without a blade. Perianth bristles retrorsely barbed === Eleocharis

7. Inflorescence a compact, flattened head. Spikelets on two opposite sides of main axis (native) === Blysmus

7. Inflorescence variable, if compact and flattened then spikelets not exclusively on two opposite sides of main axis === 8

8. Glumes of spikelets on two opposite sides of axis (distichously arranged) === 9

8. Glumes spirally arranged === 11

9. Spikelets with 1-4 fertile florets. Inflorescence a compact, flattened blackish head. Inflorescence bracts 1(-2) (native) === Schoenus

9. Spikelets many-flowered (>4). Inflorescence variable  (usually a simple or compound umbel or an umbel-like raceme). Inflorescence bracts several === 10

10. Achenes trigonous. Stigmas three === Cyperus

10. Achenes biconvex. Stigmas two (native) === Pycreus

11. Inflorescence bracts 2-4. Stem trigonous === 12

11. Inflorescence bracts 0-1. Stem terete or trigonous (native) === Isolepis p.p., Rhynchospora, Schoenoplectus and Scirpoides

12. Spikelets few, 10-40 mm long. Achenes brownish, 1,5-3 mm. Stem sharply trigonous (native) === Bolboschoenus

12. Spikelets numerous, 2-4 mm long. Achenes whitish, ca. 1 mm. Stem bluntly trigonous === Scirpus


Ball P.W. & Reznicek A.A. (2002) Carex. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee (eds.), Flora of North America, vol. 23. Oxford University Press, New York-Oxford: 254-572.

Ball P.W., Reznicek A.A. & Murray D.F. (2002) Cyperaceae. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee (eds.), Flora of North America, vol. 23. Oxford University Press, New York-Oxford: 3-573.

Browning J., Gordon-Gray K.D., Smith S.G. & van Staden J. (1996) Bolboschoenus yagara (Cyperaceae) newly reported for Europe. Ann. Bot. Fennici 33: 129-136.

Bruhl J. (1995) Sedge genera of the world: relationships and a new classification of the Cyperaceae. Austr. Syst. Bot. 8: 125-305.

Desfayes M. (2004) The specific status of Cyperus badius and the subspecies of Scirpoides holoschoenus (Cyperaceae), with special reference to Sardinia. Fl. Medit. 14: 173-188.

Goetghebeur P. (1998) Cyperaceae. In: Kubitzki K. & al. (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. 4. Springer, Berlin: 141-190.

Govaerts R. & Simpson D.A. (2007) World checklist of Cyperaceae. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: 765 p.

Hroudová Z., Zákravský P., Ducháček M. & Marhold K. (2007) Taxonomy, distribution and ecology of Bolboschoenus in Europe. Ann. Bot. Fennici 44: 81-102.

Larridon I., Bauters K., Reynders M., Huygh W., Muasya M., Simpson D.A. & Goetghebeur P. (2013) Towards a new classification of the giant paraphyletic genus Cyperus (Cyperaceae): phylogenetic relationships and generic delimitation in C₄ Cyperus. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 172(1): 106-126.

Simpson D.A. & Inglis C.A. (2001) Cyperaceae of economic, ethnobotanical and horticultural importance: a checklist. Kew Bull. 56: 257-360.

Stieperaere H. (1997) Juncus canadensis en Rhynchospora fusca, onvrijwillige (her-) introductie in het Vlaams district (België). Dumortiera 67: 7-11.

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