Kyllinga alba
Nees
Cyperaceae
Cyperus alatus (Nees) F.Muell.
Cyperus ascolepidioides (Cherm.) Kük
Cyperus cartilagineus laevissimus (Cherm.) Kük.
Cyperus cristatus (Kunth) Mattf. & Kük.
Cyperus nigripes grandiceps Kük.
Cyperus nigritanus (C.B.Clarke) Lye
Kyllinga alata Nees
Kyllinga ascolepidioides Cherm
Kyllinga cristata Kunth
Kyllinga nigritana C.B.Clarke
Common Name:
General Information
Kyllinga alba is a robust, densely tufted, perennial plant with a short rhizome. It usually produces numerous stems and grass-like leaves that can be 10 - 70cm long[
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 and used for cleaning ostrich egg shells so that they can be used for storing water.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
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.
Range
Africa - widespread from Cote D'Ivoire to Somalia and south to S. Africa; also in the Seychelles.
Habitat
Savannah[
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/
].
Properties
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.40 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The lower parts of the plant are pounded then placed in an ostrich egg shell and left there for 4 - 14 days. This purifies the inside of the shell so that it can then be used as a water container[
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
].
The roots are aromatic. The scent is likened to that of citronella[
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/
].
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
