Online Flora of the Maltese Islands by Stephen Mifsud
 
     
   17 Aug 2026      ()
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Index of Plant Families (2 families in this page)

Rushes and Sedges
CYPERACEAE
Sedge
JUNCACEAE
Rush
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CYPERACEAE
Juss.

( Sedge Family )

Subfamalies: Mapanioideae, Cyperoideae
Family Description: Cyperaceae, commonly known as the sedge family, is a large and globally distributed group of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the order Poales. It includes around 90–100 genera and over 5,500 species, making it one of the ten largest families of flowering plants. Sedges are especially abundant in wetlands, marshes, and damp meadows, though they also thrive in alpine, arid, and coastal habitats. These plants are typically herbaceous perennials, though some are annuals. A hallmark feature is their solid, often triangular stems—a trait captured in the botanical mnemonic “sedges have edges.” Leaves are simple, linear, and grass-like, arranged in three ranks, with closed sheaths and no ligules. Many species spread via rhizomes or tubers, allowing them to form dense colonies. The inflorescence is usually a spikelet, composed of small, inconspicuous flowers, each subtended by a glume. Flowers are often unisexual or bisexual, hypogynous, and monochlamydeous—lacking a true perianth, though some have scales or bristles in its place. Stamens typically number 1 to 3, and the gynoecium is bicarpellary or tricarpellary, syncarpous, with a superior, unilocular ovary and a single basal ovule. The stigmas are often feathery, aiding in wind pollination. The fruit is a nut or achene, often trigonous (three-angled), and the seeds are endospermic, with a small, straight embryo. Some species, like Cyperus papyrus, have historical significance—papyrus was made from its pith—while others, like Cyperus esculentus (tigernut), are cultivated for food.
Botanical Name Common Name Maltese Name Flowering Period Thumbnail Picture Profile Type
Bolboschoenus glaucus
(Lam.) S.G. Sm.

Main Synonym :
Scirpus glaucus Lam.
Southern Clubrush,
African Clubrush,
Tuberous Bulrush 		Simar tal-Africa Apr-Jun Normal Profile
with
11
images.
Carex distachya
Desf.

Main Synonym :
-
Two-spiked sedge Sogħda rqiqa,
Sogħda ta\' ftit fjuri 		Apr-Jun Normal Profile
with
7
images.
Carex distans
L.

Main Synonym :
Carex forficula Sennen
Distant Sedge Sogħda twila Mar-May Normal Profile
with
7
images.
Carex divisa
Huds.

Main Synonym :
Carex lobata Lam.
Divided Sedge,
Separated Sedge 		Sogħda komuni Mar-May Normal Profile
with
15
images.
Carex divulsa
Stokes

Main Synonym :
Carex muricata var. divulsa (Stokes) Wahlenb.
Grey Sedge,
Grassland Sedge 		Sogħda mifruda,
Sogħda separata 		Mar-May Normal Profile
with
6
images.
Carex extensa
Gooden.

Main Synonym :
Carex nervosa Desf.
Long-bracted Sedge Sogħda tal-baħar Apr-May Normal Profile
with
13
images.
Carex flacca subsp. erythrostachys
(Hoppe) Holub

Main Synonym :
Carex flacca subsp. serrulata (Biv.) Malag.
Glacuous Sedge,
Blue Sedge,
Heath Sedge 		Sogħda tax-xagħri Apr-Jun Normal Profile
with
13
images.
Carex halleriana
Asso

Main Synonym :
Carex alpestris All.
Southern Sedge,
Haller's Sedge 		Sogħda tal-makkja Mar-Jun Normal Profile
with
4
images.
Carex hispida
Willd. ex Schkuhr

Main Synonym :
Carex acutiformis Brot.
Hispid Sedge Sogħda tat-tafal,
Sogħda kbira 		Apr-Jun Normal Profile
with
6
images.
Carex otrubae
Podp.

Main Synonym :
Carex cuprina (Sándor ex Heuff.) T.Nendtv. ex A.Kern.
False Fox Sedge Sogħda kompatta Mar-May Normal Profile
with
7
images.
Carex pairae
F.W.Schultz

Main Synonym :
Carex muricata subsp. lamprocarpa (Wallr.) Celak.
Paira's rough sedge Sogħda ta\' Paira Mar-May Normal Profile
with
6
images.
Carex spicata
Huds.

Main Synonym :
Carex contigua Hoppe
Spiked Sedge,
Prickly Sedge 		Maltese name not known Jul-Aug Normal Profile
with
0
images.
Cyperus alternifolius
L.

Main Synonym :
Cyperus frondosus Salisb.
Umbrella Papyrus,
Umbrella Plant 		Bordi tal-umbrella Apr-Nov Normal Profile
with
8
images.
Cyperus capitatus
Vand.

Main Synonym :
Schoenus mucronatus L.
Capitate Galingale,
Sand Galingale 		Bordi tar-ramel Mar-Jun Normal Profile
with
7
images.
Cyperus eragrostis
Lam.

Main Synonym :
Cyperus luzulae Hochst. ex Steud.
Tall flatsedge,
Umbrella sedge,
Nutgrass 		Bordi aħdar,
Bordi ċar 		Mar-Jun Normal Profile
with
5
images.
Cyperus esculentus
L.

Main Synonym :
Cyperus sieberianus Link
Yellow Nutsedge,
Chufa Sedge,
Tigernut Sedge 		Maltese name not known Apr-Sep Normal Profile
with
6
images.
Cyperus fuscus
L.

Main Synonym :
Cyperus compressus Krock.
Brown Galingale Bordi żgħir Mar-May Normal Profile
with
4
images.
Cyperus laevigatus subsp. distachyos
(All.) Ball

Main Synonym :
Juncellus distachyos (Allioni) Turrill - Historically established synonym widely adopted in Maltese flora
Mediterranean Galingale Bordi Iswed Jan-Jun Normal Profile
with
0
images.
Cyperus longus subsp. badius
(Desf.) Bonnier & Layens

Main Synonym :
Cyperus longus subsp. badius (Desf.) Soó
Compact Galingale Bordi tal-wied żgħir Apr-Jun Normal Profile
with
5
images.
Cyperus longus subsp. longus
L.

Main Synonym :
Cyperus speciosus Lojac.
Sweet Galingale Bordi tal-wied Apr-Jun Normal Profile
with
9
images.
Cyperus papyrus
L.

Main Synonym :
Papyrus siculus Parl.
Papyrus,
Papyrus Sedge,
Paper Reed 		Papiru Apr-Sep Normal Profile
with
5
images.
Cyperus rotundus
L.

Main Synonym :
Cyperus olivaris O.Targ.Tozz.
Round Galingale,
Nut Sedge,
Purple Nutsedge 		Bordi tat-toroq Jul-Nov Normal Profile
with
5
images.
Eleocharis ovata
(Roth) Roem. & Schult.

Main Synonym :
Scirpus compressus Moench
Southern Spikerush,
Ovate Spikerush 		Simar tal-Għadajjar Jan-Apr Normal Profile
with
0
images.
Eleocharis palustris
(L.) Roem. & Schult.

Main Synonym :
Eleocharis intersita Zinserl.
Common Spikerush,
Pale Spikerush 		Simar tat-toppu Jan-Apr Normal Profile
with
11
images.
Isolepis cernua
(Vahl) Roem. & Schult.

Main Synonym :
Scirpus cernuus Vahl
Slender Clubrush,
Low Bulrush,
Fibre Optic Grass 		Simar irqiq Apr-Jun Normal Profile
with
0
images.
Schoenoplectus lacustris
(L.) Palla

Main Synonym :
Scirpus lacustris L.
Common Clubrush Maltese name not known Mar-Jun Normal Profile
with
0
images.
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani
(C.C.Gmel.) Palla

Main Synonym :
Scirpus tabernaemontani C.C.Gmel.
Grey Clubrush,
Softstem Clubrush 		Maltese name not known Apr-Jun Normal Profile
with
0
images.
Schoenus nigricans
L.

Main Synonym :
Schoenus bonanni C.Presl
Black Bog Rush,
Black Sedge 		Simar iswed Mar-Jul Normal Profile
with
5
images.
Scirpoides holoschoenus
(L.) Soják

Main Synonym :
Holoschoenus vulgaris Link - Historically established synonym widely adopted in Maltese flora
Round-headed Clubrush Simar tal-boċċi Feb-Jun Normal Profile
with
10
images.


JUNCACEAE
Juss.

( Rush Family )

Subfamalies: Juncadeae, Luzuloidea
Family Description: Juncaceae, commonly known as the rush family, is a group of monocotyledonous flowering plants within the order Poales. It includes about 8 genera and approximately 460 species, most notably the genus Juncus, which gives the family its name. These plants are widespread, especially in temperate and subarctic regions, and are often found in wetlands, marshes, and other moist or nutrient-poor habitats. Morphologically, members of Juncaceae are herbaceous perennials or annuals, often with creeping rhizomes and erect, cylindrical or flattened stems. The leaves are typically basal or cauline, alternate, and tristichous (arranged in three vertical rows), with sheathing bases and often lacking a distinct blade. In some genera, like Luzula, the leaves are flat and bear long, silky hairs. The flowers are small, actinomorphic, and bisexual, usually arranged in cymose inflorescences or dense heads. They possess six papery tepals in two whorls, often greenish, brown, or purplish, and six stamens (though this can vary). The ovary is superior, tricarpellary, and syncarpous, developing into a dry, dehiscent capsule that splits to release numerous small seeds.
Botanical Name Common Name Maltese Name Flowering Period Thumbnail Picture Profile Type
Juncus acutus
L.

Main Synonym :
Juncus multibracteatus Tineo ex Guss.
Sharp-Pointed Rush,
Sharp Rush,
Spiny Rush 		Simar Lixx,
Simar niggież 		Mar-Jun Normal Profile
with
12
images.
Juncus articulatus
L.

Main Synonym :
Juncus polycephalus D.Don ex Hook.
Jointed Rush,
Joint-leaf Rush 		Simar Mar-May Normal Profile
with
6
images.
Juncus bufonius
L.

Main Synonym :
Juncus aletaiensis K.F.Wu
Toad Rush Simar żgħir Mar-May Normal Profile
with
7
images.
Juncus capitatus
Weigel

Main Synonym :
Juncus mutabilis Lam.
Dwarf Rush,
Leafy-bract Dwarf Rush 		Maltese name not known Mar-Apr Normal Profile
with
0
images.
Juncus conglomeratus
L.

Main Synonym :
Juncus glomeratus Thunb.
Compact Rush Maltese name not known Jun-Aug Normal Profile
with
0
images.
Juncus effusus
L.

Main Synonym :
Tristemon conglomeratus Raf.
Soft Rush,
Corkscrew Rush 		Maltese name not known Apr-May Normal Profile
with
0
images.
Juncus foliosus
Desf.

Main Synonym :
Juncus bufonius subsp. foliosus (Desf.) Buchenau
Leafy Rush Maltese name not known Apr-Jun Normal Profile
with
0
images.
Juncus hybridus
Brot.

Main Synonym :
Juncus bufonius subsp. hybridus (Brot.) Arcang.
Hybrid Toad Rush Simar żgħir Mar-May Normal Profile
with
6
images.
Juncus maritimus
Lam.

Main Synonym :
Juncus ponticus Steven
Sea Rush Simar tal-baħar May-Jun Normal Profile
with
10
images.
Juncus sorrentinoi
Parl.

Main Synonym :
Juncus bufonius subsp. sorrentinii (Parl.) Husn.
Sorrentini's Rush Maltese name not known Mar-May Normal Profile
with
0
images.
Juncus subulatus
Forssk.

Main Synonym :
Juncus multiflorus Desf.
Somerset Rush Simar tal-ilma May-Jun Normal Profile
with
16
images.

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