Cyperaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Cyperus alternifolius

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Cyperus alternifolius is a robust, perennial, grass-like plant growing from a rhizomatous rootstock and producing several culms (usually in a straight row); the culms can be 25 - 150cm long, occasionally to 200cm[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ , 500 Title Flora of Somalia Publication Author Thulin M. (Editor) Publisher Kew Publishing, London. Year 1993 ISBN Description Detailed information on the plants of the region, often adding notes on the plants uses. ] The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental in many parts of the world, valued especially for its leafless stems that are topped by leaf-like bracts around the inflorescence[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. , 991 Title Cyperaceae of Economic, Ethnobotanical and Horticultural Importance: A Checklist Publication Kew Bulletin Vol. 56 No. 2, pp 257 - 360 Author Simpson D.A.; Inglis C.A. Publisher The Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew, London Year 2001 ISBN 1-84246-038-2 Description An excellent and very comprehensive checklist, giving the range, habitat and uses of over 500 species. ]. Cyperus alternifolius is widespread and very abundant. It is apparently spreading through escapes from horticulture and there is no evidence of a decline or threat. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeNative to most of sub-Saharan Africa and Arabia, the plant is also long naturalized in the Mediterranean, parts of tropical Asia and the Americas

HabitatSwamps, wet grassland and beside streams[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].