Cyperus pectinatus
Vahl
Cyperaceae
Anosporum nudicaule (Poir.) Boeckeler
Anosporum pectinatum (Vahl) Lye
Atomostylis cyperiformis Steud.
Atomostylis flavescens Steud.
Cyperus nudicaulis Poir.
Common Name:
General Information
Cyperus pectinatus is a perennial grass-like plant with a short rhizome; it produces a tuft of culms around 25 - 120cm 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 as a source of materials for weaving etc.
Cyperus pectinatus 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
Tropical and southern Africa - Mauritania to Sudan and Ethiopia, south to Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, KwaZulu-Natal and Madagascar
Habitat
Marshes and dambos, on lake, stream and river margins and as part of floating aquatic vegetation mats; at elevations from 750 - 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.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.80 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
This species is closely related to Cyperus colymbetes. Both species have nutlets surrounded by corky tissue to make them long-floating. The culms of Cyperus pectinatus however are higher in number and much more slender than those of Cyperus colymbetes, and are rounded to trigonous, whilst those of Corylus colymbetes are almost winged[
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.
].
Edible Uses
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
The stems are used for weaving hats, mats, baskets and boxes[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
