Cyperus phleoides var. hawaiiensis is has short, woody rhizomes and culms 10–90 cm tall, with a 2–5 mm diameter at the base, covered by leaf sheaths 3–20 cm long. The leaves are numerous, simple, and crowded, with linear, coriaceous blades 3–8 mm wide, shorter or longer than the culm, and margins that are recurved. The sheaths are tinged in shades of brown and split into parallel fibers, and stipules are absent. The inflorescences are simple or partially compound, umbelliform or head-like, 1.5–4 cm long and 3–8 cm wide, with 3–11 rays and 5–12 densely spikelet-bearing spikes. Involucral bracts number 5–12, divergent to reflexed, and much longer than the inflorescence. Spikelets bear 2–3 glumes and 1–2 fertile flowers, with oblong-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate shapes, 3.5–4 mm long. The flowers are bisexual (perfect) and lack a corolla. The superior ovary leads to trigonous achenes 1.5–2.2 mm long. Each plant produces a single seed with a thin coat, a basal embryo, and abundant endosperm. Found on bog margins, open sites, or cliffs in mesic forests at elevations of 230-1,100 meters.
Bean-shaped (Reniform): Resembling the shape of a kidney or bean.
Square or Oblong: Angular shape with all sides more or less equal or longer than wide.
Triangular: Three-sided shape, broadest below the middle.
Elliptic: Rounded at both ends. shaped like an ellipse or oval.
Ovate or Obovate: egg-shaped, broader at one end.
Linear: Extremely long and narrow, with sides usually parallel.
Round: Appears circular, with length and width roughly the same.
Cardioid (Heart-Shaped): One edge has a prominent double curve into two lobes.
Cylindrical: A cylinder with parallel sides and a circular cross-section.
Discoid: Resembling a disc or plate with two relatively flat surfaces.
Fusiform: Spindle-shaped, tapering at both ends.
Globose: Spherical.
Lenticular: Resembling a lens with two convex surfaces.
Ovoid: Egg-shaped.
Plano-convex: Having a flat ventral (planar) surface and a curved dorsal (convex) surface.
Polygonal: Having more than three flat faces meeting at angles.
Sectoroid: Resembling a segment of an orange with two relatively flat faces and one curved face.
Subglobose/ellipsoid: Inflated shape but less than spherical.
Trigonous: Having three faces that meet at a distinct angle; triangular in cross-section.
Endangered species (E) are species that are so rare they’re in danger of becoming extinct.
Threatened species (T) are species that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
Species of Concern (SOC) are species about which there are some concerns regarding status and threats, but insufficient information is available to list the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Plant Extinction Prevention (PEP) is a state status for rare plants that focuses its efforts on species that have fewer than 50 remaining wild individuals.
Orthodox seeds (desiccation-tolerant): can be dried to an internal seed moisture of less than 12% water and stored at freezing temperatures.
Intermediate seeds (temperature-sensitive) tend to age faster than orthodox seeds and may have only a 5-year lifespan when stored at -20°C. They are recommended for storage at 5°C.
Recalcitrant seeds (desiccation-sensitive): cannot be stored in a conventional freezer as they cannot survive after drying and/or freezing at -20°C. They are recommended for cryopreservation storage.