Cyperus laevigatus
L.
Cyperaceae
Acorellus distachyus (All.) Palla
Acorellus laevigatus (L.) Palla
Acorellus pallae Kneuck.
Chlorocyperus junciformis (Desf.) Rikli
Chlorocyperus laevigatus (L.) Palla
Cyperus careyi Britton
Cyperus cossyrensis Tineo ex Guss.
Cyperus distachyos All.
Cyperus incurvus Spreng. ex Kunth
Cyperus juncellus Dinter
Cyperus junciformis Desf.
Cyperus lateralis Forssk.
Cyperus leucostachys Link
Cyperus maritimus Gouan ex Spreng.
Cyperus mucronatus Rottb.
Cyperus pleuranthus Nees
Cyperus reptans Boeckeler
Cyperus rivularis Steud.
Cyperus roxburghianus C.Presl
Cyperus roxburghii A.Dietr.
Cyperus subaphyllus Boeckeler ex Schinz
Cyperus submonastichyus Steud. & Jard.
Cyperus teretifolius A.Rich.
Cyperus uliginosus Thouars ex Link
Cyperus viridulus Boeckeler
Juncellus calanthus Peter
Juncellus distachyos (All.) Turrill
Juncellus laevigatus (L.) C.B.Clarke
Juncellus lateralis (Forssk.) M.R.Almeida
Pycreus laevigatus (L.) Nees
Pycreus lateralis (Forssk.) Nees
Pycreus mucronatus (Rottb.) Nees
Common Name:
General Information
Cyperus laevigatus is a grass-like, perennial plant with a long creeping rhizome that can be 30cm or more long; it produces a cluster of stems that can be crowded, or spaced along the rhizome, growing around 3 - 95cm tall[
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is cultivated in Hawaii to make mats, hats, cloaks etc[
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.
].
Cyperus laevigatus is widespread with stable populations and does not face any major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[
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
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
Range
Subtropics and tropicas of the Mediterranean, most of Africa and SW Asia to India & China; S. & N. America - Argentina north to California, Caribbean
Habitat
Along lake shores, usually in saline or alkaline sites; on riverbanks, and around hot springs; at elevations up to 2,300 metres[
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.
,
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.60 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Requires a sunny position[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
Edible Uses
The plant is burnt for salt[
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.
]. No further details are given, but the general process is to burn the dried plant then percolate water through the ashes to dissolve out the salts. The water is then evaporated to leave behind the salts[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
The rhizomes are diuretic. A paste made from the rhizome is taken as a remedy for kidney problems[
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.
].
Other Uses
The culms are used for matting and to make various items including hats, cloaks, loincloths and string[
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
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.
