Cyperus conglomeratus Rottb.

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

Morphology General Habit

Slender to very robust tussocky perennial with a short woody rhizome and numerous c. 0.5 mm thick wiry roots that are often covered by a thick greyish tomentum and then c. 2 mm thick

Morphology Stem

Stems 1–40 (rarely to 120) cm long and c. 1–4 mm thick, triangular to almost terete, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves many, from the basal 3–15 cm only; sheaths rather thin, grey to reddish brown, the lower sometimes splitting up into reddish brown fibres; blades 5–25 cm long and 1–3 mm wide, often rather thick, weakly or strongly curved, sometimes folded as dry

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a terminal head of 3–50 crowded spikelets usually 3–5 cm in diam., but often subtended by 1–8 new heads or groups of spikelets on 1–6 cm long peduncles; involucral bracts 1–5, leafy, erect or spreading, the largest 1–25 cm long, usually overtopping the inflorescence

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 5–30 x 2–4 mm, lanceolate, compressed or subterete, greyish white or variegated grey and reddish brown, 10–50-flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 2.5–4 mm long, ovate, greyish white to brown or reddish brown, many-nerved, but the nerves sometimes indistinct; midrib often green and excurrent into a short straight awn

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 3-branched

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet c. 1.5 x 0.8–1 mm, obovate, obscurely triangular, blackish, minutely papillose.

Distribution

N1–3; C1; S2, 3 widespread in dry and hot parts of Africa and western Asia.

Ecology

Near sea-level to 800 m.

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

Type

Type: Arabia, Gorab & Ghunsudam, Forsskahl s.n. (C, holo.)

Note

Haines & Lye: “in East Africa only known from a very young specimen from northern Kenya.” They do not cite this specimen. The species is otherwise known from drier northern Africa and from Senegal to Somalia, so it is possible that it does occur in our area; as there seem to be no authenticated specimens, I place it in ‘species of uncertain occurrence’.