Cyperus ligularis
L.
Cyperaceae
Cyperus callophorus G.Mey.
Cyperus coriaceus (G.Mey.) Schrad. ex Nees
Cyperus glandulosus (Bojer) Rolfe
Cyperus glaucoviridis Boeckeler
Cyperus punctatifolius Steud.
Cyperus rionensis Boeckeler
Cyperus rufus Kunth
Cyperus sintenisii Boeckeler
Cyperus spicatocapitatus Steud.
Cyperus thyrsiflorus Boeckeler
Cyperus trigonus Boeckeler
Cyperus ubertus Willd. ex Link
Cyperus vulnerans Salzm. ex Schltdl.
Mariscus coriaceus G.Mey.
Mariscus dissolutus (Kunth) T.Koyama
Mariscus glandulosus Bojer
Mariscus ligularis (L.) Urb.
Mariscus rufus Kunth
Common Name:
General Information
Cyperus ligularis is an erect, perennial, grass-like plant with short thick rhizomes, it produces vigorous tufts of culms around 30 - 130cm tall[
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.
,
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 food, medicine and source of materials, it is sometimes also cultivated locally for its medicinal uses[
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 sometimes grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its robust caespitose habit and greyish-green foliage[
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.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
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/
Range
Tropical and subtripical regions of the Americas, tropical western Africa.
Habitat
Swamps, marshes; mangrove swamps; brackish water; lagoons; humid hollows in coastal dunes; creek margins; coconut plantations; lakes; also planted in house yard, isolated or in stands covering several m2; generally near the sea[
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.
,
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
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.80 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Cyperus ligularis is not tolerant of prolonged cold temperatures[
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.
].
Readily identified by its robust caespitose habit and greyish-green foliage[
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 soft stem base is eaten by children[
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.
].
Medicinal
Part unspecified: Used by the Surinam Saramaccan Bush Negroes as an ingredient in a curative herbal bath[
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
].
Stem: Used to treat sore eyes, earaches, and coughs and colds[
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
].
The sap from the heated rhizome or stem is squeezed into the ear to relieve earache and into sore eyes to bring them relief[
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 to make brushes to apply whitewash to houses[
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.
