Purple nutsedge (Flora of the WAP complex

Purple nutsedge

Cyperus rotundus

Summary ²

Cyperus rotundus (coco-grass,Java grass,nut grass,purple nut sedge,red nut sedge,Khmer kravanh chruk) is a species of sedge (Cyperaceae) native to Africa, southern and central Europe (north to France and Austria), and southern Asia. The word cyperus derives from the Greek "κύπερος" (kuperos) and rotundus is from Latin, meaning "round". The earliest attested form of the word cyperus is the Mycenaean Greek ku-pa-ro, written in Linear B syllabic script.

Diagnostic ³

"Erect, non-tufted, rhizomatous perennials; rhizome stoloniferous, stolons terminated by an ellipsoidal or globose-ovoid tuber; culms bearing a corm-like enlargement at base, 12-45 cm tall, triquetrous. Leaves few, basal, 3-28 x 0.2-0.5 cm, linear, gradually acuminate; sheaths 1-7 cm long, light brownish. Inflorescence simple or compound, 2-11 cm across, primary rays 1-8; leafy bracts 2-4, usually shorter, but in some the lowest one exceeding the inflorescence. Spikelets 1-2.3 x 0.15 - 0.3 cm, linear, acute at apex, compressed, brown. Glumes 3-3.5 x 1.5-2 mm, ovate-elliptic, keeled, ferrugineous brown with pale narrow hyaline margins. Stamens 3. Stigmas long, 3. Nut 1-1.5 x 0.5 mm, obovate-oblong, trigonous, apiculate, brown."

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