Apart from the characteristic tubers, this species may easily be confused with Cyperus rotundus, but can be distinguished by the imperfection of the inflorescence, the spaced lower bracts, and the more distinctly nerved glumes[].

Common Name:

General Information

Cyperus bulbosus is a perennial, grass-like plant producing culms 15 - 30cm tall from underground tubers 10 - 15mm long[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Scattered in tropical and subtropical regions from Africa through Arabia and Asia to India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia.

Habitat

On dry sandy soil, usually near the sea in Malaysia[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

In countries where the species is common the young tubers are eaten[].
The characteristic (economic) feature of the plant is the tuberous rhizomes (often called bulbils) that it produces. These are not much larger than grains of rice, and since they are borne on long, thin, non-persistent shoots they are found in great abundance in the soil, free from each other and free from the parent plant. They are accordingly collected by sifting the sandy soil. They are encased in several easily separated scaly coats and, after the removal of these, are roasted and eaten or are soaked in water, washed, pounded into a flour, and baked into bread or cooked into puddings, etc. They have no aromatic property, and are strictly speaking edible not medicinal tubers[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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