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  Scrophulariaceae : Scrophularia lanceolata

  R. Neil Reese

  Scrophularia lanceolata is a perennial herb growing 30 to 90 cm tall from a fibrous root system. The stems are erect, square in cross-section, and slightly hairy to glabrous. Leaves are opposite, simple, and lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 5 to 12 cm long and 2 to 5 cm wide, with serrated margins and a pointed tip, dark green above and lighter beneath. The plant flowers from June through August. The inflorescence is a terminal or axillary cyme with small tubular flowers about 10 to 15 mm long. Each flower has five free, greenish sepals that are ovate and about 2 to 3 mm long, and five free, reddish to purplish petals fused at the base forming a tubular bilabiate, corolla with spreading lobes. The upper lip 2-lobed and the lower lip shorter with 3 lobes. There are four stamens per flower, with filaments about 6 to 8 mm long inserted inside the corolla tube and yellow anthers approximately 2 to 3 mm long. The pistil is single with one locule, about 5 to 7 mm long, a style 3 to 4 mm long, and a bilobed stigma. The fruit is a dry, ovoid capsule about 8 to 12 mm long that ripens in late summer and splits open to release numerous small seeds. Lanceleaf figwort is native to South Dakota, occurring in open woods, prairies, and along roadsides throughout much of the state.

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  Scrophulariaceae: Verbascum thapsus

  R. Neil Reese

  Verbascum thapsus is a biennial herbaceous plant with a deep taproot. In the first year, it forms a dense basal rosette of large, soft, woolly leaves; in the second year, it produces a tall, erect flowering stem reaching 1–2.5 meters in height. Stems are stout, covered densely with soft, woolly hairs, giving a silvery-gray appearance. Leaves are alternate, simple, broadly ovate to lanceolate, 10–40 cm long and 5–20 cm wide, with entire or slightly wavy margins and acute to rounded tips. Both leaf surfaces are densely covered with soft, velvety hairs. Petioles are short or absent in basal leaves and longer in stem leaves. Flowering occurs from June to September, with inflorescences forming a large, dense, spike-like raceme up to 60 cm long, bearing numerous yellow, five-petaled flowers. The calyx consists of five green, ovate sepals, 7–10 mm long, free and slightly hairy. The corolla has five bright yellow petals, 15–25 mm long and 10–15 mm wide, fused at the base and spreading widely. Each flower has five stamens with filaments covered in purple glandular hairs and yellow anthers about 3–5 mm long. The pistil is single, with a superior ovary, slender style, and bifid stigma. The fruit is a small, ovoid to ellipsoid capsule, 4–6 mm long, containing numerous tiny seeds, maturing from August to October. Common mullein is introduced in South Dakota, native to Europe and Asia, and commonly found in disturbed sites, roadsides, fields, and waste areas, thriving in well-drained, sandy to loamy soils under full sun.

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  Solanaceae : Physalis longifolia

  R. Neil Reese

  Physalis longifolia is a perennial herb from a deep caudex and spreading by shoots from lateral roots. The erect stems are erect, often branching, and typically covered with fine hairs, giving them a somewhat rough texture, 30-100 cm tall, often purplish, with a few sparse hairs, especially on younger shoots. The simple, alternate leaves have petioles 1-6 cm long and the blades are lanceolate to lance-linear or occasionally rounder approaching ovate, 3-13 cm long and 1-7 cm wide. The margins vary greatly from entire to wavey to unevenly toothed. Flowering occurs from late spring to late summer (May–August). The flowers are usually single on a slender pedicel, 5-15 mm long that increases as fruit develop. Flowers are axillary, solitary, nodding, about 1–2 cm wide. At flowering, the calyx consists of five green sepals 7-12 mm long, that are fused at the base with free lobes about half of the length, pointed at the tips and have fine hairs along their margins, giving the calyx a slightly fuzzy texture. The calyx forms a bell-shaped structure that surrounding the base of the corolla. The corolla has five yellow petals, 10-15 mm long, marked with brownish purple spots near the center. The petals are fused at the base forming a bell shape. There are 5 stamens with yellow anthers, the filaments flattened and nearly as wide as the anthers. The fruit is a globose berry, maturing from August through October, yellow when ripe, 8-15 mm in diameter, surrounded by the papery calyx that extends to 2-3 cm in length. Longleaf ground cherry is native to South Dakota and commonly found in dry, open habitats such as prairies, sandy soils, roadsides, and disturbed areas, mainly in the central and western parts of the state.

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  Solanaceae: Solanum dulcamara

  R. Neil Reese

  Solanum dulcamara is a perennial, woody, semi-climbing vine or scrambling shrub that can reach lengths up to 3 meters. The stems are slender, flexible, and covered with fine hairs, giving a slightly rough texture. Leaves are alternate and simple, broadly ovate to lanceolate with 2 to 5 deep lobes, measuring 3 to 9 cm long and 2 to 7 cm wide. The upper leaf surface is smooth and dark green, while the lower surface is lighter and may have fine hairs. Petioles are slender and typically 1 to 5 cm long. . The plant flowers from May through September. The inflorescence is a terminal or axillary cluster of star-shaped, purple to violet flowers about 15 to 25 mm in diameter. Each flower has five free, pointed green sepals about 5 to 8 mm long and 2 to 3 mm wide. The petals are fused at the base, forming a shallow star shape with five lobes, each petal is 10 to 15 mm long and 5 to 8 mm wide, with wavy or slightly curled margins. There are five stamens per flower with yellow anthers about 3 to 5 mm long, which release pollen by pores (poricidal dehiscence). The pistil has a single ovary with two fused carpels forming two locules, a style about 5 to 7 mm long, and a small stigma. The fruit is a bright red, oval berry about 10 to 15 mm long that ripens from July to October, containing numerous small seeds. Bittersweet nightshade is native to Europe and Asia but is naturalized and considered invasive in South Dakota, where it grows in wetlands, along streams, roadsides, and disturbed sites.

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  Solanaceae: Solanum rostratum

  R. Neil Reese

  Solanum rostratum is an annual, herbaceous plant with a taproot system. It typically grows 30–100 cm tall. The stems are erect or spreading, densely covered with yellow prickles and stellate hairs, giving them a rough texture. Leaves are alternate, simple, and deeply pinnatifid, measuring 5–15 cm long and 3–10 cm wide, with oblong to ovate lobes. Both upper and lower surfaces are green and densely pubescent with star-shaped hairs; petioles are present, 2–8 cm long, and also prickly. Flowering occurs from June to September, with solitary or few-flowered inflorescences (cymes) arising in the leaf axils, each flower about 2–3 cm in diameter. The calyx has five sepals, 8–15 mm long and 3–6 mm wide, lanceolate, green, fused at the base, and armed with prominent yellow spines. The corolla consists of five bright yellow petals, 18–25 mm long and 10–18 mm wide, fused at the base and forming a star shape. There are five stamens, markedly unequal in size; one is much longer than the others, with anthers 6–10 mm long, yellow, and prominently projecting from the flower. This stamen arrangement is a key distinguishing feature, with one larger anther adapted for attracting pollinators and the others for pollen transfer. The pistil is single, with an ovary about 3–4 mm in diameter; the style is slender, 7–10 mm long, and the stigma is slightly capitate and greenish, just above the level of the anthers. The fruit is a globose berry, 1–1.5 cm in diameter, green when immature and turning yellow at maturity, enclosed in a spiny calyx; fruits mature from August to October. Buffalo bur is native to South Dakota, it occurs in disturbed habitats such as roadsides, fields, and overgrazed pastures, establishing readily in sandy or gravelly soils.

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  Urticaceae: Laportea canadensis

  R Neil Reese

  Laportea canadensis is an unbranched, rhizomatous, perennial herb growing 40-100 cm tall. The stems, petioles, inflorescence branches and sometimes the leaf midribs are sparsely to densely covered with stinging hairs. The simple, alternate, petiolate leaves have ovate to elliptic blades, 8-20 cm long and 5-13 cm wide, rounded at the base and pointed at the tip, with petioles 3-11 cm long. The blade margins are toothed and the surfaces are smooth to covered in short bristly hairs. The plants are monoecious with the flowers in clusters in the upper leaf axils, female flowers above, reaching above the leaves and the male flowers below, not exceeding the leaves. The minute male flowers have 5 sepals and 5 stamens and the female flowers have 4 sepals, the inner pair larger than the outer pair which often abort. The fruit is an achene enclosed by the inner sepals. Wood nettle blooms from July into September in moist woods in eastern South Dakota.

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  Urticaceae : Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis

  R. Neil Reese

  Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis is a rhizomatous perennial herb with simple, erect, squarish stems, growing up to 3 m in height, with few to many stinging hairs on the stems. The alternate leaves are petiolate, the petioles equal to or shorter than the blades, with a sparse covering of stinging hairs and a pair of stipules at the base. The blades are larger and ovate toward the base, 1-6 cm long, 1-4 cm wide, and smaller, ovate to lanceolate towards the top, often somewhat folded lengthwise, the edges sharply toothed, the veins sunken on the upper surface and raised below. The upper surface of the leaf blades are typically hairless, with the lower surface being smooth, sometimes having a few tiny hairs, or stinging hairs. The plants are monoecious with clusters of male or female flowers in axillary panicles or sometimes in long string-like strands, usually in pairs, the inflorescence longer than the subtending leaf petiole. Both male and female flowers are 4-merous, tiny and indistinct, creamy green to pinkish in color. The fruit are ovate, tan to brown achenes about 1.5 mm long and < 1 mm wide. Stinging nettle blooms from June into September in moist woods, along streams, lakes and ditches throughout South Dakota.

  Synonym: Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis

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  Valerianaceae: Valeriana occidentalis

  R. Neil Reese

  Valeriana occidentalis is a perennial, herbaceous plant with a fibrous root system and short, thick rhizomes, forming loose clumps. Mature plants typically reach 30–90 cm in height. Stems are erect, branched or unbranched, round, and smooth to sparsely hairy. Leaves are opposite or whorled, compound, ternate to pinnate, with leaflets ovate to lanceolate, 2–8 cm long and 1–3 cm wide, with serrated margins and pointed tips. Leaf surfaces are medium green, with both surfaces glabrous or sparsely hairy. Petioles are present and range from 2–8 cm in length. Flowering occurs from June to August, with inflorescences forming dense, compound cymes up to 10 cm wide, bearing numerous small, tubular, funnel-shaped flowers about 5–8 mm long. Flowers have five greenish-white sepals, 1–2 mm long, free and lanceolate, and five fused petals forming a corolla tube 4–7 mm long with five spreading lobes. Stamens number five, inserted on the corolla tube, with yellow anthers approximately 1 mm long. The pistil consists of a single ovary with a slender style and a capitate stigma. The fruit is a small, dry, ribbed achene, 2–3 mm long, maturing from July to September. Western valerian is native to South Dakota, occurring mainly the Black Hills in montane meadows, open forests, and moist slopes, favoring well-drained, moderately rich soils under full sun to partial shade.

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  Verbenaceae : Glandularia bipinnatifida

  R. Neil Reese

  Glandularia bipinnatifida is a prostrate to ascending, mat-forming, short-lived perennial herb growing from a somewhat woody, branched base, with stems up to 60 cm long, moderately to densely covered with bristly hairs. The stems occasionally rooting from the lower nodes. The petiolate leaves are opposite, 1-6 cm long, 3-parted to compound bipinnate, with stiff appressed hairs on both surfaces and rolled margins. The inflorescence consists of flattened spikes 1-20 cm long, on peduncles originating at the ends of branches. The tubular calyx is green, 7-10 mm long, with 5 unequal lobes, 1-4 mm long. The pink to purple corolla tube is about 1.5 times the length of the calyx, covered with hairs on the outside, with reflexed, notched limbs, 7-10 mm wide. The fruit are nutlets, 4-seeded, 2-3 mm long. Dakota mock vervain blooms from May into October on dry plains, prairies and along roadsides in the southern counties in South Dakota.

  Synonym: Verbena bipinnatifida

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  Verbenaceae: Phryma leptostachya

  R. Neil Reese

  Taxonomic Description:

  Phryma leptostachya is a perennial herb growing 30 to 90 cm tall from a fibrous root system. The roots are slender and moderately deep, anchoring the plant in well-drained soils. The stems are slender, erect and unbranched or sparsely branched, often with fine, soft hairs giving them a somewhat rough texture. Leaves are opposite or whorled near the base, ovate to lanceolate, 5 to 12 cm long, 2 to 5 cm wide, with serrate margins, a rough texture, and petioles 1–3 cm long. The flowers are small and tubular, clustered in slender, spike-like racemes at the top of the stems, blooming from July through September. The calyx consists of five narrow, green to reddish sepals, each about 3 to 5 mm long, with pointed tips and often faintly hairy margins. Each flower has a tubular corolla about 8 to 12 mm long, with a two-lipped structure; the upper lip is hooded, and the lower lip is three-lobed. Flowers have four didynamous (two long and two short) stamens and a single pistil with a superior ovary. Fruits develop from August through October, maturing into small, two-chambered capsules, 6–10 mm long, that split open to release seeds. American lopseed is native to South Dakota and typically found in rich, moist woodlands, shaded slopes, and along stream banks, mostly in the eastern part of the state.

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  Verbenaceae : Verbena hastata

  R. Neil Reese

  Verbena hastata is a short-lived, perennial herb with square, green to reddish stems, usually branched above, with short, rough hairs, growing 0.5-2.5 m tall. The simple, opposite, petiolate, lanceolate to lance-ovate leaves are 4-18 cm long, toothed, pointed at the tip and often 3-lobed at the base. The lower leaf surface is hairy, the upper smooth to sparsely hairy and the veins appearing sunken. The inflorescence consists of stiff, terminal, many-flowered spikes. The flowers are subtended by small bracts. The calyx is 2.5-3 mm long, tubular and 5-toothed and hairy on the outer surface. The blue to purplish corolla tube is about twice as long as the calyx, with 5 reflexed lobes, 2-3 mm long. the fruit are 4 nutlets enclosed in the persistent calyx. Blue vervain blooms from June to October in moist meadows and woodland, along streams and springs in all but the NW corner of South Dakota.

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  Verbenaceae : Verbena stricta

  R. Neil Reese

  Verbena stricta is a short-lived, perennial herb with erect stems, usually branched above, with a dense covering of hairs, growing 20-120 cm in height. The simple, opposite, erect to spreading, ovate to orbicular leaves are 3-7 cm long, sessile or nearly so, toothed, broadly pointed at the tip. The lower leaf surface is densely covered in hairs with prominent veins, the upper is hairy and wrinkled. The inflorescence consists of 1-several stiff, terminal, many-flowered spikes on each branch. The flowers are subtended by small bracts about the size of the calyx. The calyx is 4-5 mm long, tubular and 5-toothed, and densely covered with hairs. The blue to purple, rarely white, hairy corolla tube is about slightly longer than the calyx, with 5 reflexed lobes that create a disk 8-9 mm across. The petal lobes are slightly unequal in size, the 2 lateral lobes largest and the lower lobe notched at the tip. The fruit are 4 nutlets, 2.5-3 mm long, enclosed in the persistent calyx. Hoary vervain blooms from May to September in pastures, prairies, along roadsides and in wastelands throughout South Dakota.

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  Verbenaceae: Verbena urticifolia

  R. Neil Reese

  Verbena urticifolia is a perennial, herbaceous plant with a fibrous root system and short rhizomes, forming loose clumps. Mature plants typically reach 30–90 cm in height. Stems are erect, slender, square in cross-section, branched, and covered with spreading, rough hairs. Leaves are opposite, simple, ovate to lanceolate, 5–12 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, with serrated margins and pointed tips; both leaf surfaces are rough-hairy, especially along the veins. Petioles are present, 1–4 cm long. Flowering occurs from July to September, with inflorescences forming slender, spike-like racemes 5–15 cm long, bearing many small, white to pale lavender flowers. Each flower has a calyx with five green, lanceolate sepals about 3–5 mm long, fused at the base, and a corolla with five fused petals forming a tubular, two-lipped flower about 5–7 mm long. Stamens number four, didynamous (two long and two short), with white filaments and yellow anthers. The pistil consists of a single ovary with a slender style and bifid stigma. The fruit is a four-lobed schizocarp that splits into four one-seeded nutlets, each about 2 to 3 mm long, maturing from August to October. White vervain is native to South Dakota , found in eastern and southern counties. in moist to mesic woodlands, thickets, roadsides, and shaded areas, often in rich, well-drained soils under partial to full shade.

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  Violaceae: Viola adunca

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola adunca is a perennial, herbaceous plant with a fibrous root system and short rhizomes, forming loose clumps or patches. Mature plants typically reach 10–30 cm in height. Stems are slender, erect or ascending, and mostly leafless, with a few basal and cauline leaves. Leaves are alternate, simple, and mostly basal, with ovate to lanceolate blades 2–8 cm long and 1–4 cm wide, with crenate to serrate margins and an acute to rounded tip. Leaf surfaces are medium green and glabrous or sparsely hairy on both sides; petioles are slender and 3–10 cm long. Stipules are present, ovate to lanceolate, 5–10 mm long, often toothed or fringed. Flowering occurs from May to July, with solitary, showy, zygomorphic flowers borne on slender peduncles rising above the foliage. Flowers are 15–25 mm wide with five petals: the lower petal is spurred, 10–15 mm long and 3 to 6 mm wid. The upper four petals are violet to blue purple with darker veining; petals are free and spreading. Sepals number five, are narrow, lanceolate, green, 6 to 10 mm long and 1.5 to 2.5 mm wide, free and spreading. Stamens number five, with yellow anthers bearing nectar spurs. The pistil is single, with a superior ovary, slender style, and capitate stigma. The fruit is a small, ovoid capsule, 5–7 mm long, maturing from July to August, containing numerous tiny seeds equipped with elaiosomes that encourage ant dispersal. Early blue violet is native to South Dakota and occurs in moist meadows, open forests, stream banks, and grasslands, preferring well-drained to moist, sandy or loamy soils under full sun to partial shade.

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  Violaceae: Viola canadensis

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola canadensis var. rugulosa is a caulescent, colony-forming, perennial herb, spreading by stolons, with 1-several stems growing 20-40 cm in height. The leaves are simple, green to grayish green, heart-shaped, shallowly toothed and hairy, especially along veins on the underside. There are 3-5 basal leaves with long petioles, the blades up to 10 cm wide, usually not quite as long, the edges scalloped and with pointed tips. The alternate cauline leaves are similar but generally more ovate, with membranous stipules 8-15 mm long. The flowers arise singly on a peduncle from the axils of the upper leaves. The 5 green sepals are 4-6 mm long, often with a few short hairs. The corolla is irregular with 5 petals, white on the inside, with a yellow base, and purplish on the outside. The spurred lower petal and the 2 lateral petals have purple lines toward the base, and the lateral petals are bearded (have tufts of hairs), and the upper 2 petals are usually hairless. There are 5 stamens surrounding the pistil and the style is usually bearded. The fruit is a capsule 6-10 mm long. Canada white violet blooms from May through August in woodlands in eastern and northwestern South Dakota.

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  Violaceae: Viola nephrophylla

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola nephrophylla is an acaulescent perennial herb growing from a branching caudex. The basal leaves have petioles 5-20 cm long with lanceolate stipules. The blades are simple, green, heart-shaped, smooth or occasionally having a few short hairs, the margins with shallow rounded teeth. The flowers develop on a peduncle that is as tall or taller than the leaves. The 5 green sepals are 5-7 mm long and usually hairless. The corolla is irregular, with 5 blue petals that are 10-20 mm long. The lower petal has a short spur, and it and the 2 lateral petals have a whitish base, are bearded (have tufts of hairs), and the upper 2 petals are usually hairless. Additionally, there are cleistogamous flowers (small flowers that don’t open) on erect to prostrate peduncles. The fruit is a smooth capsule 6-8 mm long. Northern bog violet blooms in May and June in moist prairies and along streams and lakes in all but the central region of South Dakota.

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  Violaceae: Viola pedatifida

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola pedatifida is an acaulescent perennial herb growing from an erect, ascending and sometimes branching caudex. The green basal leaves are up to 55 mm long by 87 mm wide, usually palmately 3-parted, with each part divided into linear lobes that are divided again, the margins with fine hair. The petioles are up to 15 cm long having narrowly lanceolate stipules. The flowers develop on a peduncle that is usually taller than the leaves. The 5 green sepals are 6-8 mm long and usually with small hairs. The corolla is irregular, with 5 violet to red violet petals that are 10-20 mm long. The lower petals are white at the base with dark violet veins, with a beard (tufts of hairs), and the upper 2 petals are usually hairless. Additionally, there are cleistogamous flowers (small flowers that don’t open) on erect to prostrate peduncles. The fruit is a smooth yellow green capsule 8-12 mm long. Prairie violet blooms from April to June in prairies and open woodlands in all but the central region of South Dakota.

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  Violaceae : Viola pubescens

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola pubescens is a caulescent perennial herb growing from an erect to horizontal rhizome, with 1-several erect to decumbent stems growing 10 to 40 cm in length and covered with a few to many spreading hairs. The leaves are alternate on the upper portion of the stem, broadly heart-shaped, blunt to rounded at the tip, 4-10 cm long and about as wide or wider. The surfaces are smooth to hairy, the margins have rounded teeth fringed with short hairs. The petioles can be shorter to longer than the blades, hairy with leafy stipules. Solitary flowers develop in the axils of leaves, with a peduncle that is shorter to longer than the leaf. The 5 green sepals are 6-10 mm long, pointed and with narrow white margins. The corolla is irregular, with 5 yellow petals that are 8-12 mm long. The lower petals have darker, purplish brown veins, the lower most swollen, the lateral pair of petals with a beard (tufts of hairs), and the upper 2 petals are usually hairless. Additionally, there are cleistogamous flowers (small flowers that don’t open) that develop in the upper axils. The fruit is a tan to brown ovoid capsule 8-12 mm long, wooly to sparsely hairy. Downy yellow violet blooms from March to June in woodlands, along streambanks and in thickets along the eastern and western borders of South Dakota.

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  Violaceae: Viola sororia

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola sororia is a perennial, herbaceous plant with a fibrous root system and short, creeping rhizomes, often forming dense patches. Mature plants typically reach 10–30 cm in height. Stems are slender, erect or ascending, and mostly leafless except near the base. Leaves are alternate, simple, heart-shaped to ovate, 3–10 cm long and wide, with crenate to serrate margins and an acute to rounded tip. The upper leaf surface is medium green and glabrous or sparsely hairy, while the lower surface is paler and sometimes hairy. Petioles are long, 5–15 cm, often hairy. Stipules are present, ovate to lanceolate, 5–15 mm long, often toothed or fringed. Flowering occurs from April to June, with solitary, showy, zygomorphic flowers, 15–25 mm wide, born on slender peduncles rising above the foliage. The flowers have five petals; the lower petal is usually spurred and about 8 to 15 mm long and 3 to 6 mm wide, while the lateral petals measure 7 to 12 mm long and 4 to 7 mm wide, often with bearded bases. Sepals are lanceolate, green, generally 6 to 10 millimeters long and 1.5 to 3 millimeters wide. There are five stamens with yellow anthers arranged around the pistil, with filament bases forming nectar-producing spurs near the ovary. The pistil has a single, slender style ending in a capitate stigma. The fruit is a small, ovoid capsule, 5–12 mm long, splitting open at maturity from, June to August, to release numerous small seeds often equipped with elaiosomes encouraging ant dispersal. containing numerous tiny seeds, maturing. Common blue violet is native to South Dakota and occurs in moist woodlands, meadows, lawns, and shaded disturbed areas, preferring well-drained to moist, loamy soils under partial to full shade.

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  Acoraceae: Acorus americanus

  R. Neil Reese

  Acorus americanus is a grass-like perennial herb, which grows 90-150 cm in height. The plant is strongly rhizomatous. The leaves are entire, sword shaped and erect. Sweet flag has a spadix that is 4-9 cm long with light brown greenish-brown perfect flowers that are enclosed by a leaf-like spathe. The perianth has 6 short segments, there are 6 stamens, and the pistil contains 2-3 locules. The fruit is a small capsule containing 2-3 seeds. Flowering occurs from May to July. This species is commonly found in swamps and marshes throughout South Dakota.

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  Cyperaceae: Carex brevior

  R. Neil Reese

  Carex brevior is a perennial sedge in the Cyperaceae family. It grows from a dense, fibrous root system with short rhizomes, sometimes forming small clumps but not extensive sods. The stems (culms) are upright, slender, triangular in cross-section, and usually 30–70 cm tall, smooth or minutely rough below the inflorescence. Leaves are mostly basal, grass-like, flat, and 2–5 mm wide, with sheathing bases and rough margins. Cauline leaves are few, shorter than the culms, and often drooping. Flowering occurs from late spring to early summer (May–July). Inflorescences are terminal, composed of 2–5 short, dense, cylindrical spikes. The terminal spike is usually staminate (male), while the lower spikes are pistillate (female), but sometimes spikes are androgynous. Each spike is 1–3 cm long and 5–7 mm wide. Each pistillate flower is enclosed in a sac-like perigynium, which is green to brown, inflated, and beaked. The perigynia are 3–5 mm long and 1–2 mm wide, with a short, thick beak. The achene (seed) is lens-shaped, brown, and 1.5–2 mm long, maturing in early to midsummer. Shortbeak sedge is native to South Dakota, occurring in dry to mesic prairies, open woodlands, roadsides, and disturbed soils, and is found statewide, especially in upland prairies and open meadows.

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  Cyperaceae: Carex hoodii

  R. Neil Reese

  Carex hoodii is a perennial sedge in the Cyperaceae family. It grows from a dense, fibrous root system with short rhizomes, forming loose tufts or small clumps rather than extensive sods. Stems (culms) are upright, slender, sharply three-angled, and range from 20–60 cm tall, smooth below but often rough near the inflorescence. Leaves are mostly basal, narrow, flat or slightly folded, 1–3 mm wide, and shorter than the culms, with rough margins and tight basal sheaths. Flowering occurs from late spring to mid-summer (May–July). Inflorescences are terminal and consist of 2–4 short, narrow spikes (each 1–2.5 cm long). The terminal spike is commonly staminate (male), while the lower spikes are pistillate (female), though some spikes may be androgynous. Pistillate flowers are enclosed in a sac-like perigynium, which is green to brown, ovoid to ellipsoid, 2.5–4 mm long and 1–1.5 mm wide, with a short, straight beak. The achene (seed) is lens-shaped, brown, and about 1.5 mm long, maturing in early to mid-summer. Hood’s sedge is native to South Dakota, typically found in dry to mesic prairies, open pine woods, rocky slopes, and sandy soils, and is most frequent in the Black Hills, Coteau des Prairies, and northern and western uplands.

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  Cyperaceae: Carex muehlenbergii

  R. Neil Reese

  Carex muehlenbergii is a perennial sedge growing from a fibrous root system with slender, short rhizomes, forming loose tufts but not dense sods. Stems (culms) are upright, sharply three-angled, and range from 20–60 cm tall, usually smooth or sometimes slightly rough near the inflorescence. Leaves are mostly basal, narrow (1–3 mm wide), flat or slightly folded, and shorter than or about equal to the culms, with rough margins and sheathing bases. The ligule is a thin, translucent band about 1 to 2 millimeters high, often acute and sometimes with frayed edges. Flowering occurs from late spring to early summer (May–July). The terminal inflorescence consists of 2–5 short, cylindrical spikes, with the top (terminal) spike usually staminate (male) and lower spikes pistillate (female), though some may be androgynous. Each flower has scale-like bracts subtending small florets. Stamens number three with slender filaments and pollen-bearing anthers; the pistil has a single ovary with one style and two branching stigmas. Pistillate flowers are enclosed in a sac-like perigynium, which is green to brown, ovoid, 2.5–4 mm long and about 1 mm wide, with a short, straight beak. The achene (seed) is lens-shaped, brown, and about 1.5 mm long, maturing in early to midsummer. Sand sedge is native to South Dakota, most commonly found in dry, sandy prairies, open woodlands, sand dunes, and disturbed sandy soils, and is widespread but especially abundant in sandy uplands and the central and western parts of the state.

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  Cyperaceae: Carex praegracilis

  R. Neil Reese

  Carex praegracilis is a perennial sedge in the Cyperaceae family. It grows from a dense, fibrous root system with long, creeping rhizomes, forming loose to dense sods and spreading readily by vegetative means. Stems (culms) are upright, slender, sharply three-angled, usually 20–70 cm tall, and smooth or slightly rough near the inflorescence. Leaves arise mostly from the base, with sheathing leaf bases that are smooth and light brown to tan and may be tinged reddish-brown. Leaf blades are narrow and flat, typically 2 to 4 mm wide often shorter than the culms, with rough margins. The ligule is a short, membranous, translucent structure about 1 to 2 millimeters long, often acute or truncate with smooth or slightly jagged edges, located at the junction of leaf blade and sheath. Flowering occurs from late spring to early summer (May–July). Inflorescences are terminal, composed of 2–5 short, cylindrical spikes, slender, erect, bearing numerous small spikelets clustered at the top of the stems. The species is usually monoecious, with staminate (male) flowers in terminal spikelets and pistillate (female) flowers in lateral or lower spikes, though some may be androgynous. Floral scales subtend florets with three stamens in male flowers and a single ovary with one style (dividing into two stigmas) in female flowers. Pistillate flowers are enclosed in a sac-like perigynium, which is green to brown, 2.5–4 mm long, and about 1 mm wide, with a short, straight beak. The achene (seed) is lenticular, brown, and about 1–1.5 mm long, maturing from early to midsummer. Clustered field sedge is native to South Dakota, commonly found in moist to wet meadows, prairies, roadside ditches, alkaline flats, and disturbed soils. It is distributed statewide but is especially abundant in low, moist sites and along roadsides.

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  Cyperaceae: Cyperus odoratus

  R. Neil Reese

  Cyperus odoratus is an annual or short-lived perennial sedge with a fibrous root system and sometimes tuberous rhizomes, allowing moderate vegetative spread. The erect stems (culms) are slender, triangular in cross-section, and range from 10 to 80 cm tall. Leaves are grass-like, alternate, linear, and smooth to rough, typically 5–30 cm long and 2–5 mm wide, with rough margins and sheathing bases that wrap closely around the stem base. The ligule is short and inconspicuous, often appearing as a small fringe of hairs or a thin membrane. Flowering occurs from summer through fall (June–October). Inflorescences are compound umbels with multiple rays, each bearing clusters of small spikelets. Spikelets are lanceolate to ovate, 2–5 mm long and consist of many brown to purplish-brown flowers covered by overlapping scales. Flowers have three stamens and a pistil with three stigmas. The fruit is a small, lens-shaped achene, about 1–2 mm long, brown at maturity, ripening from late summer into fall. Fragrant flatsedge is native to South Dakota, occurring in wetlands, marshes, ditches, riverbanks, and moist disturbed soils statewide, with higher concentrations in eastern and central regions.