Cyperaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Cyperus laevigatus

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Cyperus laevigatus is a grass-like, perennial plant with a long creeping rhizome that can be 30cm or more long; it produces a cluster of stems that can be crowded, or spaced along the rhizome, growing around 3 - 95cm tall[ 610 Title Flora of Tropical East Africa Publication Author Beentje H.J. Website http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814 Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 2002 ISBN Description Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is cultivated in Hawaii to make mats, hats, cloaks etc[ 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 laevigatus is widespread with stable populations and does not face any major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[ 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 RangeSubtropics and tropicas of the Mediterranean, most of Africa and SW Asia to India & China; S. & N. America - Argentina north to California, Caribbean

HabitatAlong lake shores, usually in saline or alkaline sites; on riverbanks, and around hot springs; at elevations up to 2,300 metres[ 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. , 610 Title Flora of Tropical East Africa Publication Author Beentje H.J. Website http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814 Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 2002 ISBN Description Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa. ].