Scirpus juncoides Roxb., Fl. Ind., 1: 218. 1820; R.R.Stewart, l.c. 101; S. erectus auct. non Poir.: C. B. Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 656. 1893; Koyama, Fl. of Taiwan, 5: Pl. 1321. 1979.

Annual, 30-60 cm. Roots fibrous, yellow-brown. Stem to c. 50 cm, 1-1.5 mm diam., terete or 5-6 angled, smooth, green or yellowish-green. Sheaths two, lower to 20 mm, green or yellow, soon disintegrating, upper (inner) to 85 mm, green, later yellowish, mouth oblique, widely scarious, its central part corresponds ligule; blades to 2 mm long. Inflorescence of 1-3 sessile spikes; lowest bract to 70 mm, terete, apex acute. Spikes up to 18 x c. 8 mm, ovoid; glumes 2.8-4 mm, widely cymbiform, mid-nerve extending into short, smooth mucro, sides obscurely nerved, yellowish brown, apex rounded, margin narrowly scarious, with short fringe. Perianth bristles 5-6, equalling or slightly shorter than nut, pale brown; stamens 3; stigmas 2(-3). Nut 2-2.3 x 1.5-2.1 mm, widely obovoid, biconvex (or almost plano-convex), apex rounded, apiculate, surface shallowly transverse-rugulose, glossy, grey or blackish-brown.

Fl. Per.: September.

Type: Protologue does not cite location or specimen. There is a drawing. pl. 742: (K!).

Rice fields; Distribution: Caucasus and NW Iran, Madagascar, Pakistan and India, China, Japan, Hawaii, Malaysia, Australia.

Related species, S. bucharicus (Roshev.) Grossh. known as weed in rice fields from C. Afghanistan and Tadjikistan, may be found in Pakistan. It is characterized by its long lowest bract to 27 cm, many-veined glumes, nut 1.4-2 mm long and perianth bristles longer than nut.