Cyperus rotundus L.

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Photo: Sune Holt
Faiquete, Vilanculos, Inhambane, Mozambique

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Synonyms:	Cyperus merkeri C.B. Clarke Cyperus nubicus C.B. Clarke Cyperus platystachys Cherm. Cyperus retzii Nees Cyperus rotundus L. subsp. tuberosus (Rottb.) Kük. Cyperus taylorii C.B. Clarke Cyperus tuberosus Rottb.
Common names:	Purple nutsedge (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Perennial sedge up to 1 m high, not clump-forming but forming extensive colonies. Culm base swollen, arising from thick, scaly stolons. Culms few, hairless, triangular, 1-3 mm wide. Leaves linear, 10 - 40 cm long, glossy green with leaf-sheaths green to reddish-brown; margins and major veins scabrid. Involucral bracts 1-5, leaf-like, erect or spreading, longest up to 26 cm. Inflorescence with 1-8 primary branches, up to 12 cm long; spikelets 3-15 together in dense clusters, linear-lanceolate, slightly flattened, 6-70 mm long, bright golden to dark brown.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In seasonally and permanently wet places; sometimes as a weed in rice and maize fields.
Altitude range:	Up to 1950 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in Africa and India.
Malawi distribution:	N,C,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Ariathisa abyssinia (Larval food plant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Bromilow, C. (2010). Problem Plants and Alien Weeds of South Africa Briza Publications, South Africa Page 62. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 123. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 540. (Includes a picture). Hoenselaar, K., Verdcourt, B. & Beentje, H.J. (2010). Cyperaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 211 - 214. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 88. As Cyperus rotundus subsp. rotundus Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 110. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 119.

Other sources of information about Cyperus rotundus:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Cyperus rotundus
Flora of Burundi: Cyperus rotundus
Flora of Mozambique: Cyperus rotundus
Flora of Zambia: Cyperus rotundus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Cyperus rotundus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Cyperus rotundus
African Plant Database: Cyperus rotundus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Cyperus rotundus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Cyperus rotundus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Cyperus rotundus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Cyperus rotundus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Cyperus rotundus
JSTOR Plant Science: Cyperus rotundus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Cyperus rotundus
Plants of the World Online: Cyperus rotundus
Tropicos: Cyperus rotundus
Wikipedia: Cyperus rotundus