Cyperus esculentus L.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean, Caribbean, Orinoquia. Elevation range: 230–1550 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bogotá DC, Cundinamarca, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Herb.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Chingo, Chufa, Coquito, Corocillo, Corocito

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Fairly robust stoloniferous perennial; stolons to c. 15 cm long and 0.5–1.5 mm thick, covered with brown to blackish scales and ending in a blackish tuber 3–8 mm in diam.

Morphology Stem

Stems 15–70 cm long and 1–5 mm thick, triangular, glabrous, with 3–many crowded leaves near the base

Morphology Leaves

Largest leaf-blades 10–30 cm long and 3–9 mm wide, flat, scabrid on margin and major ribs; leaf-sheaths green to reddish brown, rarely blackish

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Spikes 1–3 cm long and wide, with 4–12 spreading spikelets Inflorescence a 3–20 cm long and 3–15 cm wide anthela consisting of 1 sessile and 3–10 stalked spikes on 0.5–15 cm long peduncles, often with 1–5 secondary (usually stalked) spikes from the base of some primary spikes; primary inflorescence-bracts 3–9, leafy, erect or spreading, the largest 3–20 cm long and 2–9 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 5–20 x 1.5–2 mm, linear-lanceolate with obtuse tip, brown or rust-coloured, 6–22-flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 2.2–2.6 mm long, ovate-elliptic, reddish brown with an uncoloured marginal border and 3–4 distinct nerves on each side of the midrib; midrib ending in the obtuse apex or slightly excurrent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 3-branched

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet 1.3–1.5 x 0.6–0.7 mm, elliptic, triangular, grey and shiny; surface with minute isodiametric cells.

Distribution

S3 pantropical and subtropical.

Ecology

Altitude below 100 m.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 230 - 1550 m.; Andes, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Valle del Magdalena.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba

Conservation

No Evaluada

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

coquito, corocito

Cyperaceae, K Hoenselaar, B. Verdcourt & H. Beentje. Hypolytrum, D Simpson. Fuirena, M Muasya. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2010

Type

Type: “Habitat Monspelii, inque Italia, Oriente”, lectotype: “Cyperus rotundus esculentus angustifolius” in Bauhin, Theatri Bot., 221, 222, 1658, chosen by Simpson in Jarvis & al. (ed.), Regnum Veg. 127: 41 (1993)

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, stoloniferous, up to 1 m high.

Vegetative Multiplication Stolons

Stolons to ± 15 cm long, 0.5–1.5 cm thick, covered with brown scales and ending in a blackish tuber 3–8 mm in diameter.

Morphology Culms

Culms 18.5–74 cm long, 1.6–3.5 mm wide, trigonous to triquetrous, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaf sheath pale brownish-green to green, 2–9 cm long. Leaf blade linear, flat, 11.5–29 cm long, 2.3–8 mm wide, with 2 main veins next to primary vein, apex acuminate, glabrous to minutely scabrid on margins and veins Leaves up to 38 cm long, crowded near the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts 2–6. Leaf-like, spreading, the lowermost 4–16.5 cm long, 2.1–8 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence simple or compound, primary branches 5–10, 1–18 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets in loose clusters on elongated axis, sessile and at the end of primary and secondary branches, 9–20 per cluster, linear-lanceolate, 5.5–16 mm long, 1.2–2.5 mm wide, the apex of the spikelet obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, elliptic-ovate to obovate, with 3–4 distinct veins on each side of the keel, glabrous, 2.4–3.5 mm long, 1.4–2 mm wide, keel green to reddish-brown, apex obtuse

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 2.5–4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 1–2 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet shiny grey, ellipsoid, trigonous, 1.3–1.5 mm long, 0.6–0.7 mm wide, surface with minute isodiametric cells

Figures

Fig. 35, p228

Ecology

Swamps and seasonally wet grasslands, weed of shambas and gardens; 0–2100 m

Conservation

Least Concern (LC) due to its wide distribution and common habitat.

Distribution

Range: Widespread in Africa; S Europe Flora districts: U2 U3 U4 K3 K4 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T7 T8

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

J. Browning, K.D. Gordon-Gray†, M. Lock, H. Beentje, K. Vollesen, K. Bauters, C. Archer, I. Larridon, M. Xanthos, P. Vorster, J. Bruhl, K. Wilson and X. Zhang (2020). Flora Zambesiaca Volume: 14: Cyperaceae. M.Á. García, J.R. Timberlake (Eds). Kew Publish

Type

‘Habitat Monspelii, inque Italia, Oriente’ (‘Cyperus rotundus esculentus angustifolius’ in Bauhin, Theatr. Bot.: 222, (1658) lectotype), lectotypified on icon by Simpson (1993).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, stoloniferous, up to 1 m high; stolons to ± 15 cm long, 0.5–1.5 cm thick, covered with brown scales and ending in a blackish tuber 3–8 mm in diameter (only rarely present in herbarium material); culms 18.5–74 cm long, 1.6–3.5 mm wide, trigonous to triquetrous, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves up to 38 cm long, crowded near the base; leaf sheath pale brownish-green to green, 2–9 cm long; leaf blade linear, flat, 11.5–29 cm long, 2.3–12 mm wide, with 2 main veins next to primary vein, apex acuminate, glabrous to minutely scabrid on margins and veins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts 2–6, leaf-like, spreading, the lowermost 4–19 cm long, 2.1–9 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence usually simply anthelate but a few of the primary branches are sometimes themselves branched at the apex, primary branches (3)5–10, 1–18 cm long; spikelets in loose clusters on elongated axis, sessile and at the end of primary and secondary branches, 9–20 per cluster, very narrowly ovate to very narrowly oblong, 5.5–16 mm long, 1.2–2.5 mm wide, the apex of the spikelet obtuse; glumes yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, elliptic-ovate to obovate, with 3–4 distinct veins on each side of the keel, glabrous, 2.4–3.5 mm long, 1.4–2 mm wide, keel green to reddish-brown, apex obtuse, slightly reflexed so that the spikelet outline is serrulate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3; filaments 2.5–4 mm long; anthers 1–2 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet shiny grey, ellipsoid to obovoid, trigonous, 1.3–2.0 mm long, 0.6–0.9 mm wide, smooth.

Distribution

Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique. Widespread in Africa; also in S Europe.

Ecology

Marshes, bogs, lake margins, seasonally damp grasslands and swamps, shallow boggy soil over laterite; sometimes a weed of cultivation (rice fields); 50–1750 m.

Conservation

Least Concern because of its wide distribution.

Recognition

Similar to Cyperus fulgens but bulbs are absent, the spikelets are paler (golden brown rather than reddish brown) and form an angle of less than 90° to the axis.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/164083/17636573

Conservation

LC - least concern

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: low confidence