Code
KYLSQ
Growth form
sedge
Biological cycle
Annual
Habitat
Terrestrial
KYLSQ
Growth form
sedge
Biological cycle
Annual
Habitat
Terrestrial
🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Cyperus metzii (Hochst. ex Steud.) Mattf. & Kük. |
| synonym | Kyllinga cristata Afzel. ex A.Rich. |
| synonym | Kyllinga dentata Hochst. ex A.Rich. |
| synonym | Kyllinga metzii Hochst. ex Steud. |
| synonym | Kyllinga squamulosa Kunth |
🗒 Common Names
| No Data |
📚 Overview
Description
Global description
Kyllinga squamulata is a tufted species with linear V-section leaves and brilliant light green color. The base of the plant has a strong lemon odor. The flowering axes have single conical to globular terminal spikes. The spikelets are formed of 2 imbricated glumes whose keel is adorned with strong white pectinated teeth. The fruit is a flat biconvex achene topped with a bifid style.
First leaves
The first leaves are linear with a limb long pointed. The limb section is V wide. The margin is finely scabrous. The leaves are light green bright. The base has a strong lemon odor when crushed. At the base, the sheaths fit together tristically. The young plant tilts quickly, forming a tuft of several leafy axes.
General habit
The port is tufted bunch from which grow many flowering axes. A tuft is up to 30 cm in height and 10 to 40 cm in diameter.
Underground system
The roots are fasciculate. They are simple, filiform and very numerous, of fibrous aspect.
Stem
The stem corresponds to the floriferous axis. It is solid of triangular section with sharp angles, 1 to 2 mm wide. It is glabrous and bright green in color.
Leaf
The leaves are linear, arranged tristically. They are 10 to 20 cm long and 2 to 4 mm wide. The limb section is V wide, the top is acute corner. The margin is scabrous. At the base of the limb is a closed sheath of triangular section. Both sides are glabrous and bright green in color. The base of the leaves gives off a strong citrus odor when crushed.
Inflorescence
The flowers are grouped into short, single terminal spikes, conical to globular in shape. The spike is subtended by 2 to 4 linear leafy bracts, 3 to 15 cm long.
Spikelet
The spikelets are formed of 2 or 3 nested glumes overlapping each other, which gives them a flattened shape. The glumes are 3 mm long, their keel is adorned with strong irregular white teeth, 1 mm long. Each spikelet has 1 or 2 ovaries surmounted by a bifid style.
Fruit
The fruits are flattened ellipsoidal achenes, biconvex, 1.8 mm long and 1 mm wide. They are surmounted by a bifid style. The tegument, light brown in color, is finely reticulated.
Kyllinga squamulata is a tufted species with linear V-section leaves and brilliant light green color. The base of the plant has a strong lemon odor. The flowering axes have single conical to globular terminal spikes. The spikelets are formed of 2 imbricated glumes whose keel is adorned with strong white pectinated teeth. The fruit is a flat biconvex achene topped with a bifid style.
First leaves
The first leaves are linear with a limb long pointed. The limb section is V wide. The margin is finely scabrous. The leaves are light green bright. The base has a strong lemon odor when crushed. At the base, the sheaths fit together tristically. The young plant tilts quickly, forming a tuft of several leafy axes.
General habit
The port is tufted bunch from which grow many flowering axes. A tuft is up to 30 cm in height and 10 to 40 cm in diameter.
Underground system
The roots are fasciculate. They are simple, filiform and very numerous, of fibrous aspect.
Stem
The stem corresponds to the floriferous axis. It is solid of triangular section with sharp angles, 1 to 2 mm wide. It is glabrous and bright green in color.
Leaf
The leaves are linear, arranged tristically. They are 10 to 20 cm long and 2 to 4 mm wide. The limb section is V wide, the top is acute corner. The margin is scabrous. At the base of the limb is a closed sheath of triangular section. Both sides are glabrous and bright green in color. The base of the leaves gives off a strong citrus odor when crushed.
Inflorescence
The flowers are grouped into short, single terminal spikes, conical to globular in shape. The spike is subtended by 2 to 4 linear leafy bracts, 3 to 15 cm long.
Spikelet
The spikelets are formed of 2 or 3 nested glumes overlapping each other, which gives them a flattened shape. The glumes are 3 mm long, their keel is adorned with strong irregular white teeth, 1 mm long. Each spikelet has 1 or 2 ovaries surmounted by a bifid style.
Fruit
The fruits are flattened ellipsoidal achenes, biconvex, 1.8 mm long and 1 mm wide. They are surmounted by a bifid style. The tegument, light brown in color, is finely reticulated.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
No Data
📚 Natural History
Life Cycle
Northern Cameroon: Kyllinga squamulata is a weed of the middle and especially of end of the cultural cycle. At this time, it is present in 60% of cultivated plots, instead of 20% at the beginning of the cycle. Germination begins in late June or early July when rains are regular. The germination phase is short-lived (1 to 2 weeks). If plowing does not have any particular effect on germination, weeding and mowing in the middle and at the end of the crop cycle are followed by new crops. The vegetative period lasts 2 to 4 weeks. In non-weed plots, flowering takes place in July. In regularly harvested plots, flowering is delayed until September or October at the end of the crop cycle. Fruiting occurs in September or October. Plants dry out and die at the beginning of the dry season (November).
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
Cyclicity
Kyllinga squamulata is an annual species. Although the same individual can have a strong tillering at the base giving a bunch tuft, this species multiplies only by seeds.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
Look Alikes
The different species of Cyperaceae are difficult to identify at the juvenile stages: the Kyllinga differ from other cyperaceae by the pleasant smell of fresh grass (coumarin) that are exhaled when their leaves are wrinkled.
Kyllinga squamulata exhals a lemon smell when crushed at the base
Kyllinga squamulata exhals a lemon smell when crushed at the base
Identification Keys for some Kyllinga spp.
| Species | Biological cycle | Underground system | Position of bracts |
Bracts Number Size |
Number of glomerules | Couleur of glomerules | Spikelets Size |
Glume Keel |
| Kyllinga brevifolia | vivacious |
Thin and slender rhizomes Base not bulbose |
Spread |
2-4 < 10 cm |
1 (-3) | Green | L 3-3,5 mm | white with green keel, scabrous towards the apex |
| Kyllinga bulbosa |
Thin and slender rhizomes Base bulbose |
3-4 10-15 cm |
1-3 | White | L 2,5-3 mm | |||
| Kyllinga erecta | Thick and short rhizomes | spread to reflected |
5-8 upto 25 cm |
1 | Pale green | L 3-3,5 mm |
spinulate mucronate |
|
| Kyllinga pumila | annual | No or very short rhizome | spread |
3-4 One much longer |
1-3 | L < 2,5 mm |
scabrous denticulate |
|
| Kyllinga squamulata | 3-4 | 1(-3) | Green or dark brown | L 2,7-4 mm |
winged, lobed tough |
|||
| Kyllinga tenuifolia | 3-4 | Whitish | L 3 mm |
glume top with mucro keel smooth |
||||
| Kyllinga odorata | reflected | 3-5 | 1-3 | Whitish green | L < 2,5 mm | smooth |
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
Ecology
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Northern Cameroon: Kyllinga squamulata is a characteristic species of soils with a shallow sandy horizon such as ferruginous soils on sandstone or lateritic cuirass, ferruginous dune-sand soils or sandy-loam alluvial soils. It is abundant in plots cultivated for many years, particularly in intensive cultivation (tying or mechanized cultivation, high fertilizer doses, frequent use of pre-emergence herbicides). Late germination makes it not very susceptible to preemergence herbicides. It belongs to the floristic procession of Commelina benghalensis.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
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Worldwide distribution
Kyllinga squamulata is widely distributed throughout tropical Africa. It is also present in Madagascar, India, Asia (China, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Vietnam), NE Australia. It is alo naturalised in SE of the USA, and in the West Indies only in Martinique.
Kyllinga squamulata is widely distributed throughout tropical Africa. It is also present in Madagascar, India, Asia (China, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Vietnam), NE Australia. It is alo naturalised in SE of the USA, and in the West Indies only in Martinique.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Risk Statement
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Local harmfulness
Northern Cameroon: Kyllinga squamulata is present in 40% of cultivated plots whatever the climatic region. On the other hand, it is more abundant in plots in the Sudanian region than in drier areas with less intensified crops. It is considered a potential regional weed.
Northern Cameroon: Kyllinga squamulata is present in 40% of cultivated plots whatever the climatic region. On the other hand, it is more abundant in plots in the Sudanian region than in drier areas with less intensified crops. It is considered a potential regional weed.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Uses and Management
📚 Information Listing
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
References
- Merlier H. & Montégut J., 1982. Adventices tropicales. ORSTOM-GERDAT-ENSH éd., Montpellier, France, 490p.
- Le Bourgeois, T. and H. Merlier (1995). Adventrop - Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Montpellier, France, Cirad.637p.
- Akobundu I.O. & Agyakwa C.W., 1989. Guide des adventices d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Institut international d'agriculture tropicale. Ibadan, Nigeria, 521p.
- Berhaut J., 1967. Flore du Sénégal. 2ème éd. Clairafrique éd., Dakar, Sénégal, 485p.
- Le Bourgeois Th., 1993. Les mauvaises herbes dans la rotation cotonnière au Nord-Cameroun (Afrique) - Amplitude d'habitat et degré d'infestation - Cycle de développement. Thèse USTL Montpellier II, Montpellier, France, 241p.
- Vanden Berghen C., 1982. Matériaux pour une flore de la végétation herbacée de la Casamance occidentale, Sénégal, Fascicule 1, Cyperaceae. Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, 40p.
- Hutchinson J., Dalziel J. M., Keay R. W. J. & Hepper F. N., 1972. Flora of West Tropical Africa. Vol. III part. 2. 2ème éd. The Whitefriars Press ed., London & Tonbridge, 574p.
Information Listing > References
- Merlier H. & Montégut J., 1982. Adventices tropicales. ORSTOM-GERDAT-ENSH éd., Montpellier, France, 490p.
- Le Bourgeois, T. and H. Merlier (1995). Adventrop - Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Montpellier, France, Cirad.637p.
- Akobundu I.O. & Agyakwa C.W., 1989. Guide des adventices d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Institut international d'agriculture tropicale. Ibadan, Nigeria, 521p.
- Berhaut J., 1967. Flore du Sénégal. 2ème éd. Clairafrique éd., Dakar, Sénégal, 485p.
- Le Bourgeois Th., 1993. Les mauvaises herbes dans la rotation cotonnière au Nord-Cameroun (Afrique) - Amplitude d'habitat et degré d'infestation - Cycle de développement. Thèse USTL Montpellier II, Montpellier, France, 241p.
- Vanden Berghen C., 1982. Matériaux pour une flore de la végétation herbacée de la Casamance occidentale, Sénégal, Fascicule 1, Cyperaceae. Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, 40p.
- Hutchinson J., Dalziel J. M., Keay R. W. J. & Hepper F. N., 1972. Flora of West Tropical Africa. Vol. III part. 2. 2ème éd. The Whitefriars Press ed., London & Tonbridge, 574p.
Images
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Kyllinga%2520squamulata
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
No Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Cyperaceae |
| Genus | Kyllinga |
| Species | Kyllinga squamulata Vahl |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
