Volume 6 > Part 4 > Year 1998 > Page 349 > Cyperaceae > Cyperus

2. Cyperus elatus L.wfo-0000372493

Cent. Pl. 2: 301. 1756; C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Br. Ind. 6: 618. 1893; Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 5: 148. 1925; Kük. in Engl., Pflanzenr. 4(20), 101 Heft: 59. 1935; J.Kern, Reinwardtia 6: 52. 1961; in Fl. Males., Ser. 1, Spermat. 7: 601. 1974; Hô, Câyco Viêtnam III. 2: 672. 1993.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Rhizomatous perennial. Culms tufted, 50–200 cm by 4–10 mm, trigonous to triquetrous, smooth. Leaves: blade broadly linear, up to 200 cm by 5–15 mm, acute, flattish to plicate; sheath dark purple or purplish brown. Involucral bracts 4–8, the longest up to 70 cm long. Inflorescence simple to compound, 25–30 by 25–30 cm; primary branches 6–10, equal, 15–22 cm long; secondary branches 0.3–5 cm long or spikes in sessile clusters. Spikes mostly erect to suberect, narrowly cylindric, 2–7 by 0.3–0.5 cm; axis 2–4.5 cm long, obscured by spikelets. Spikelets crowded, suberect, linear, 3–7 by 1 mm, flattened; axis straight, winged. Glumes 9 or more on the longest spikelets, ovate, 1.2–1.8 by 0.5–0.7 mm, apex acute, mucronate, sides membranous, 3–5-nerved, golden yellow to copper-coloured or dark brown below keel, keel greyish green. Stamens 3; anthers 0.5 mm long, anther connective tip prominent, setulose. Stigmas 3. Nutlets ellipsoid, trigonous, 0.8–1 by 0.3–0.4 mm, short-apiculate, greyish brown or fulvous.

Thailand : CENTRAL: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok); PENINSULAR: Chumphon (Bang Son), Trang, Narathiwat (Waeng).

Distribution : India (type) through SE Asia to W Malesia.

Ecology : Swamps, river-banks and rice fields, 0–1,000 m alt.

Notes: This species has mostly erect to suberect spikes and a prominent, setulose anther connective tip.