1 1 Phytologia (Aug 2004) 86(2) 



REDISCOVERY OF CYPERUS CEPHALANTHUS 

 (CYPERACEAE) IN TEXAS 



David J. Rosen and Bradley J. Christoffersen 



U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 17629 El Camino Real, Suite 21 1 

 Houston, TX 77058-3051, U.S.A. 



Brown and Elsik (2002) reported collections of Cyperus cephalanthus 

 Torr. & Hook, from a small coastal prairie remnant in Harris County, 

 apparently the first record in Texas since the type specimen was collected 

 near Galveston Bay (Torrey 1836; Carter and Mclnnis 1993). Following 

 their report, the site was excavated and formed into a detention basin. 

 Since the type location has never been relocated and presumed destroyed, 

 the only known extant population of C. cephalanthus in Texas at the 

 time was extirpated. Recently, during floristic surveys of the Nash 

 Prairie in Brazoria County, a flourishing population of C. cephalanthus 

 comprising over 50 individuals was discovered. Plants were growing 

 in saturated, fine sandy loam soils in the nearly level fringes of a deep 

 prairie depression. The Nash Prairie has been managed for decades by 

 routine mowing, haying, and burning, preventing the encroachment of 

 Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb. into these seasonal wetlands, the preferred 

 habitat for C. cephalanthus. 



Tucker et al. (2003) suggested that Cyperus cephalanthus is 

 naturalized in the United States, largely based on its uncertain relationship 

 with C. laetus Presl., a similar South American species. However, Carter 

 and Mclnnis ( 1 993) provide detailed ecological, biological, and historical 

 information suggesting C. cephalanthus is native to the coastal prairies 

 of Texas and Louisiana. Although its nativity may remain unknown, 

 Cyperus cephalanthus, like C. drummondii Torr. & Hook., is a reliable 

 indicator of relatively undisturbed coastal prairie remnants in Texas and 

 Louisiana (Carter and Mclnnis 1993; Carter et al. 1999; Grace et al. 

 2000; Rosen 2004). 



