Cyperus cyperoides (PROSEA)

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Plant Resources of South-East Asia
Introduction

List of species

Cyperus cyperoides (L.) O. Kuntze

Protologue: Rev. Gen. Pl. 3, 2: 333 (1898).

Synonyms

Mariscus sieberianus Nees ex Clarke (1893).

Vernacular names

Indonesia: jukut bebalean (Sundanese), suket lumbungan (Javanese), tetemung (southern Sumatra)
Malaysia: menderong ekur tupai, rumput janggut baung, rumput mesiyang (Peninsular)
Papua New Guinea: kaiga (Ialibu, Southern Highlands)
Philippines: mangilang, kupiupi (Subanum), okokiang (Bontok)
Thailand: yaa rang-kaa (Loei).

Distribution

Throughout the tropics of Africa, Asia and Australia, also in the West Indies, but there probably introduced; throughout Malesia.

Uses

C. cyperoides may be used as a vermifuge; some occult uses are known in Papua New Guinea. Sometimes it is used as a fodder.

Observations

A perennial herb with a very short rhizome, lacking stolons, stem 20-75 cm long.
Leaves 3-6 mm wide, flat, scabrid in the upper part.
Inflorescence usually simple, involucral bracts 5-10, up to 30 cm long, rays 5-17, up to 6(-10) cm long.
Spikelets linear; stamens 3, stigmas 3.
Fruit trigonous, linear, slightly curved, rufous to chestnut-coloured.

C. cyperoides occurs up to 1800 m altitude in grassland, roadsides, in forest clearings and in secondary forest and thickets; it is a common weed in gardens.

Selected sources

Burkill, I.H., 1966. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. Revised reprint. 2 volumes. Ministry of Agriculture and Co operatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol. 1 (A-H) pp. 1-1240. Vol. 2 (I- Z) pp. 1241-2444.
Heyne, K., 1950. De nuttige planten van Indonesië [The useful plants of Indonesia]. 3rd Edition. 2 volumes. W. van Hoeve, 's Gravenhage, the Netherlands/Bandung, Indonesia. 1660 + CCXLI pp.
Holdsworth, D.K., 1977. Medicinal plants of Papua New Guinea. Technical Paper No 175. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 123 pp.
Kern, J.H., 1974. Cyperaceae. In: van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (General editor): Flora Malesiana. Series 1, Vol. 7. Noordhoff, Leyden, the Netherlands. pp. 435-753.
Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. 1262 pp.

Main genus page

Cyperus (Medicinal plants)

Authors

Nguyen Khac Khoi