Cyperus bulbosus
Vahl
Cyperaceae
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[
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].
This species is similar to and sometimes confused with other tuberous sedges such as Cyperus esculentus L.; and Cyperus fenzelianus Steud.[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Cyperus bulbiferus A.Dietr.
Cyperus geminatus J.Koenig ex Ainslie
Cyperus jeminicus Retz.
Cyperus laxus R.Br.
Cyperus oleraceus Roxb. ex Nees
Cyperus polyphyllus Vahl
Cyperus rotundus pendulus Nees
Cyperus stolonifer Willd. ex Kunth
Cyperus subulatus confertus Benth.
Cyperus yemenicus Spreng.
Common Name:
General Information
Cyperus bulbosus is a perennial, grass-like plant producing several very slender stolons, and at the end of each an ovoid to globose tuber around 10mm in diameter is formed. Each tuber becomes a new plant with culms around 15 - 50cm tall[
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental[
991- Title
- Cyperaceae of Economic, Ethnobotanical and Horticultural Importance: A Checklist
- Publication
- Kew Bulletin Vol. 56 No. 2, pp 257 - 360
- Author
- Simpson D.A.; Inglis C.A.
- Publisher
- The Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew, London
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 1-84246-038-2
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive checklist, giving the range, habitat and uses of over 500 species.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
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[
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.20 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
In countries where the species is common the young tubers are eaten[
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].
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[
439- Title
- The Commercial Products of India.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Watts. Sir George.
- Publisher
- John Murray, London.
- Year
- 1908
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A classic, with a comprehensive (as then known) listing of useful plants that were traded commercially at that time. It can be downloaded from various sites on the Internet.
].
We have no specific information for this species, but it is said that the inner base of the young stems of all species in this genus can be eaten raw, and make an excellent survival food in times of need[
85- Title
- Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harrington. H. D.
- Publisher
- University of New Mexico Press
- Year
- 1967
- ISBN
- 0-8623-0343-9
- Description
- A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
