Cyperus elegans
L.
Cyperaceae
Cyperus cornutus Andersson
Cyperus cubensis Steud.
Cyperus rubiginosus Hook.f.
Cyperus trachynotus Torr.
Cyperus viscosus Sw.
Cyperus viviparus Steud.
Mariscus cornutus Andersson
Mariscus mutisii Hook.f.
Scirpus potosiensis C.B.Clarke
Scirpus viscosus Lam.
Common Name:
General Information
Cyperus elegans is a grass-like, perennial plant growing from a shortly rhizomatous rootstock; it produces a clump of culms around 15 - 80cm tall[
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
,
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials. It has potential for use in phytoremediation projects for removing hydrocarbons from moist and wet soils.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
,
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
1945- Title
- Flora de Veracruz; Cyperaceae, Fascículo 157
- Publication
-
- Author
- Pérez N.D.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2012
- ISBN
- 0187-425X
- Description
-
Range
Tropics and subtropics of the Americas from Bolivia and Peru, north through C. America and the Caribbean to Mexico and the southern USA
Habitat
Ditches, damp pastures, pond shores, riverbanks, coastal dunes; at elevations up to 500 metres[
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
,
1945- Title
- Flora de Veracruz; Cyperaceae, Fascículo 157
- Publication
-
- Author
- Pérez N.D.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2012
- ISBN
- 0187-425X
- Description
-
].
Properties
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Agroforestry Uses:
This species has been shown to be tolerant of petroleum hydrocarbons, which gives it some advantage for its use in the phytoremediation of contaminated swamps[
1945- Title
- Flora de Veracruz; Cyperaceae, Fascículo 157
- Publication
-
- Author
- Pérez N.D.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2012
- ISBN
- 0187-425X
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
The sweet-smelling rhizome is used in perfumery and cosmetics[
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.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
