Volume 6 > Part 4 > Year 1998 > Page 353 > Cyperaceae > Cyperus

8. Cyperus stoloniferus Retz.wfo-0000383008

Obs. Bot. 5: 11. 1789; C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Br. Ind. 6: 615. 1893; 111. Cyper. t. 19. fig. 1–3. 1909; Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 5: 145. 1925; Kük. in Engl., Pflanzenr. 4(20), 101 Heft: 106. 1935; J.Kern, Reinwardtia 6: 52. 1961; in Fl. Males., Ser. 1, Spermat. 7: 606. f. 50. 1974; Raymond, Dansk Bot. Ark. 23: 346. 1966; T.Koyama, Gard. Bull. Singapore 30: 132. 1977; Hô, Câyco Viêtnam III. 2: 677. 1993.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Stoloniferous perennial. Culms 1–2, 8–40 cm by 0.7–3 mm, trigonous, smooth, base swollen. Leaves: blade linear, up to 50 cm by 2–4 mm, acuminate, flattish to canaliculate; sheath pale brown, becoming fibrous. Involucral bracts 2–3, the longest 10–30 cm long. Inflorescence simple, often congested, up to 6 by 6 cm; primary branches 2–5, 0.5–6 cm long; spikes solitary. Spikes ovoid, 1.5–2.5 cm long; axis 0.1–0.5 cm long. Spikelets 3–8 per spike, suberect to patent, linear oblong to oblong lanceolate, 6–15 by 1.5–2 mm, subterete, often weakly curved; axis slightly zigzag, winged. Glumes 9 or more on the longest spikelets, broadly ovate, 2.2–2.7 by 2–2.3 mm, obtuse, mucronate, sides thickly membranous, 5–7-nerved, pale brown to dark reddish brown, keel pale green. Stamens 3; anthers 1.5–2 mm long. Stigmas 3. Nutlets ovoid, trigonous, 1–1.5 by 1 mm, dark brown, minutely punctate.

Thailand : SOUTH-WESTERN: Prachuap Khiri Khan (Khao Tao); SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri (Sattahip), Rayong (Cholburi, Ban Phae), Chanthaburi (Laem Sing), Trat (Ko Chang); PENINSULAR: Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Tao), Songkhla, Narathiwat (Tak Bai).

Distribution : Madagascar, Mauritius, India (type) to Australia, Melanesia.

Ecology : In brackish marshes and wet coastal sands at about high tide level, often in large stands.

Notes: This species is closely related to Cyperus rotundus (below) but has subterete spikelets and broadly ovate glumes. It is confined to coastal regions.

E-version notes : As Cyperus stolonifer Retz.