Cyperus kyllingia (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Cyperus kyllingia Endl.
- Protologue: Cat. horti Vindob. 1: 94 (1842).
Synonyms
Kyllinga monocephala Rottb. (1773).
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: jukut pendul bodas (Sundanese), melaran (Javanese), kembili-kembili (Batak)
- Malaysia: rumput teki, rumput butang (Peninsular)
- Philippines: anuang (Tagalog), borobotones (Bisaya), borsa-ñga-dadakkel (Iloko)
- Cambodia: smao kak kdam
- Thailand: yaa tumhu (Bangkok), yaa nuai faai (Nakhon Si Thammarat)
- Vietnam: cỏ bạc dâu, cỏ nút áo.
Distribution
Common in tropical and warm-temperate Asia, less common in tropical Africa and Australia and rare in South America; common throughout Malesia.
Uses
In India, the roots are considered an antidote to poisons. In Indonesia, they are used against diarrhoea and measles, and sometimes as a poultice for skin problems. In the Philippines, a decoction of the rhizomes is employed as a diuretic and, mixed with oil, it is applied externally to combat certain forms of dermatosis. In Vietnam, a poultice of the whole plant is used in the treatment of ulcers, sore throat, bacillary dysentery and fever. In Guam, the roots are used as abortifacient. C. kyllingia is sometimes used as a fodder.
Observations
A perennial herb with horizontally creeping rhizome, stem 5-45 cm long; leaves 2-4(-5) mm wide, canaliculate, scabrid on the margins in the upper part, grass-green; inflorescence consisting of a terminal head with usually 1-3 much smaller, sessile heads at the base, involucral bracts 3-4, up to 30 cm long, spikelets very closely packed; stamens 3, stigmas 2; fruit biconvex, laterally compressed, oblong or oblong-obovoid, yellowish-brown to chestnut-coloured. C. kyllingia occurs up to 1750 m altitude in open grassland, waste places, roadsides and regrowth.
Selected sources
190, 202, 580, 722, 760, 1035, 1178.
Authors
Nguyen Khac Khoi