Pycreus

a genus of perennial and annual herbs of the family Cyperaceae. The bisexual flowers, which have no perianth, are gathered in elongated spikelets that form umbellate or capitate inflorescences. There are two stigmata. The nutlike fruit is laterally compressed, with the thin edge facing the axis of the spikelet. There are about 100 species, distributed in the tropical, subtropical, and—less frequently—temperate zones. About ten species are found in the USSR, growing primarily in southern regions. The plants grow along sandy and silty shores, along irrigation canals, in swampy meadows, and in other wet places. Particularly widespread is P. flavescens. P. globosus is found in the Caucasus and Middle Asia, and P. korshinskyi grows in the southern part of the Far East. Both are weeds in rice fields. Pycreus is sometimes included in the genus Cyperus.