Cyperus

Scientific name

Cyperus L.

Common names

sedge

Family

Cyperaceae

Similar genera

Acorus, Carex, Juncus, Sparganium, and other sedges and sedge-like genera

Native distribution

cosmopolitancosmopolitan:
(adj) essentially worldwide in distribution

Species cultivated

12 species plus cultivated varieties as bog and pond plants or for aquaria

Cyperus alternifolius L.

C. difformis L.

C. esculentus L.

C. giganteus Vahl

C. haspan L.

C. helferi Boeckeler

C. isocladus Kunth [synonym of C. prolifer Lam.]

C. longus L.

C. odoratus L.

C. papyrus L.

C. percamenthus [not a true species]

C. strigosus L.

Adventive distribution

numerous species are introduced into many countries worldwide

Weed status

Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Hassk., C. compressus L., C. difformis, C. haspan and C. iria L. are major weeds in rice fields in numerous countries worldwide.

Habit

submersedsubmersed:
see submerged
or more commonly emergentemergent:
(adj) (syn. emersed) with parts raised out of the water; extending up out of the water

Brief description

Annual or perennialperennial:
(adj) (of a plant) having a life cycle of more than two years
sedge. Stem compact, sometimes with creeping rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
, usually triangular in cross-section. Leaves in basalbasal:
(adj) at or pertaining to the base, or point of attachment
rosetterosette:
(n) a radiating cluster of leaves, usually close to the ground at the base of a plant
, linear and elongate or reduced to scalescale:
(n) any thin, usually small and dry, membranous to leathery bract
-like sheaths. Inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
terminalterminal:
(adj) at the apex
, of simple or compoundcompound:
(adj) with two or more like parts, as in a compound leaf; divided into two or more subsidiary parts or orders, as in a compound inflorescence
umbels or heads; branches bearing multiple spikelets with distichousdistichous:
(adj) (of leaves or flowers) distinctly arranged in two ranks along an axis; leaves may be opposite or alternate
bractlets, subtending bracts leaf-like; spikelets 1- to many-flowered; bracts leaf-like. Perianthperianth:
(n) collective term for the calyx and corolla of a flower; also used for floral whorl(s) in which the calyx and corolla cannot be resolved; any of the leaves or bracts surrounding the sex organs of bryophytes
bristles absent.

Natural habitat

all types of water-bodies; many species are terrestrialterrestrial:
(adj) growing on land as opposed to living in water
and tolerate a large range of soil moisture conditions.

Additional comments

A large genus with ca. 700 species worldwide.