Cyperus digitatus
Roxb.
Cyperaceae
Cyperus aureorufus Boeckeler
Cyperus auricomus Sieber ex Spreng.
Cyperus brachystachys Nees ex Boeckeler
Cyperus fastuosus Desv.
Cyperus glomeratus Roxb. ex Arn.
Cyperus hookeri Boeckeler
Cyperus mexicanus Liebm.
Cyperus neesii Kunth
Cyperus oatesii C.B.Clarke
Cyperus ornithopodioides Delile
Cyperus racemosus khasianus (C.B.Clarke) M.R.Almeida
Cyperus rhaphiostachys Humb. & Bonpl. ex Kunth
Cyperus spongiosovaginatus Boeckeler
Cyperus subalatus Boeckeler
Cyperus trinidadensis Boeckeler
Cyperus tuberifer Steud.
Cyperus venustus Boeckeler
Cyperus wiestii Steud.
Cyperus xanthocomus Link
Papyrus auricomus (Sieber ex Spreng.) Schrad.
Papyrus elatus Nees
Papyrus tuberifer Schrad.
Common Name:
General Information
Cyperus digitatusis a perennial, grass-like plant with a very short rhizome; it can grow around 50 -150cm tal, occasionally to 200cml451, [
922- Title
- Non-timber forest products of the North-West District of Guyana
- Publication
- Tropenbos-Guyana Series 8a
- Author
- van Andel T.R.
- Publisher
- Tropenbos-Guyana Programme; Georgetown, Guyana
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 90-393-2536-7
- Description
- A very detailed study of the peoples and the plants they use, it includes a field guide to almost 500 species of useful plants.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild, and sometimes also cultivated locally, for its medicinal uses and as a source of materials[
922- Title
- Non-timber forest products of the North-West District of Guyana
- Publication
- Tropenbos-Guyana Series 8a
- Author
- van Andel T.R.
- Publisher
- Tropenbos-Guyana Programme; Georgetown, Guyana
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 90-393-2536-7
- Description
- A very detailed study of the peoples and the plants they use, it includes a field guide to almost 500 species of useful plants.
].
Cyperus digitatus is very widely distributed, common and without threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
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
Widely distributed in the subtropics and tropics of the Americas, Africa, eastern Asia and Australasia
Habitat
In stagnant water, ponds and ditches, and as weed in cultivated fields[
922- Title
- Non-timber forest products of the North-West District of Guyana
- Publication
- Tropenbos-Guyana Series 8a
- Author
- van Andel T.R.
- Publisher
- Tropenbos-Guyana Programme; Georgetown, Guyana
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 90-393-2536-7
- Description
- A very detailed study of the peoples and the plants they use, it includes a field guide to almost 500 species of useful plants.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
The plant is reported to be an invasive weed of rice paddies in some areas[
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/
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The leaves are used to treat coughs[
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.
].
The rhizome is briefly heated over the fire and its sap is squeezed into sore eyes[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
,
922- Title
- Non-timber forest products of the North-West District of Guyana
- Publication
- Tropenbos-Guyana Series 8a
- Author
- van Andel T.R.
- Publisher
- Tropenbos-Guyana Programme; Georgetown, Guyana
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 90-393-2536-7
- Description
- A very detailed study of the peoples and the plants they use, it includes a field guide to almost 500 species of useful plants.
].
Other Uses
The culms are used for weaving mats and baskets[
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.
].
The leaves and stem are used for thatching[
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.
]. A poor quality roofing, but the pulped material is suitable for making paper[
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/
,
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.
].
The peduncle is pulled out and pounded on one end into a fibrous brush. It is used to paint names on boats, houses, or grave crosses[
922- Title
- Non-timber forest products of the North-West District of Guyana
- Publication
- Tropenbos-Guyana Series 8a
- Author
- van Andel T.R.
- Publisher
- Tropenbos-Guyana Programme; Georgetown, Guyana
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 90-393-2536-7
- Description
- A very detailed study of the peoples and the plants they use, it includes a field guide to almost 500 species of useful plants.
].
The plant is a source of potash[
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.
]. (Probably obtained from the plant's ashes[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
])
The tuberous rhizome is slightly fragrant[
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/
]. It is sometimes used as a substitute for Cyperus maculatus[
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/
,
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.
], (as subsp. auricomus (Sieber ex Spreng.) Kük.)
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
