Cyperus prolifer Lam.

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

Mauritius [Insula Franciae], J. Martia s.n. (P holotype).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, fairly robust, up to 130 cm tall, with a thick creeping rhizome and purple to blackish- brown roots; culms crowded, 55–120 cm long, 3–7 mm wide, terete to trigonous, smooth

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blades absent; leaf sheath reddish-brown to dark purple, 2–32 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts scale- like to almost leaf-like, spreading, 3–4, lowermost 1.5–3(11) cm long, 2–5 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence once to twice anthelate, usually with no spikelets at the primary branch point, primary branches up to 50–100, all equal in length giving the inflorescence a spherical to umbel-like appearance, 3–11 cm long; spikelets in digitate clusters, at the end of primary and sometimes secondary branches, 1–5 per cluster, linear to ovate-lanceolate, 2.7–15 mm long, 0.9–1.9 mm wide, rachis straight; glumes pale reddish-brown, ovate, 1.1–1.6 mm long, 0.7–1 mm wide, keel pale brown to green, apex rounded to acute, slightly excurrent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3; filaments 0.9–1.6 mm long; anthers 0.5–1.2 mm long, with spiny apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet white to almost brown, obovoid, 0.4–0.5 mm long, 0.3–0.4 mm wide, almost smooth to minutely papillose.

Distribution

Zimbabwe, Mozambique. Also in Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa; also Madagascar.

Ecology

Swamp edges, stream-sides, seasonally flooded grasslands and in and beside permanent pools, almost always along the coast; occasionally cultivated elsewhere; 0–50m.

Conservation

Probably Least Concern, but more restricted in its distribution than Cyperus papyrus.

Recognition

The inflorescence is similar in form to that of C. papyrus, of which this taxon resembles a dwarf version. In spite of this superficial resemblance, the arrangement and form of the spikelets is quite different in the two species and they are probably not closely related.

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet 0.4–0.5 x 0.3–0.4 mm, obovate, triangular, whitish to brown, almost smooth to minutely papillose.

Distribution

N1 scattered in east tropical Africa, South Africa and the Madagascar region.

Ecology

From sea-level to 500 m.

Morphology General Habit

Fairly robust perennial with crowded stems on a thick creeping rhizome

Morphology Stem

Stems 25–110 cm long and 2–7 mm thick, terete or triangular, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades absent; sheaths reddish brown to dark purple, glabrous; the apex ending in a short mucro

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence an open umbel-like anthela 10–20 cm in diam.; major involucral bracts 0.5–3 cm long, leafy; major inflorescence-branches 50–100 per stem, all of about equal length, 4–10 cm long, carrying one digitately arranged cluster of spikelets or one sessile and 1–several stalked groups of spikelets; some inflorescences with 8–25 cm long secondary stems, each carrying a few basal sheaths and a new smaller inflorescence

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 3–12 x 1–1.3 mm, linear, 7–25-flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 1.2–1.5 mm long, light reddish brown with paler margin; midrib ending in the apex or slightly excurrent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 3-branched

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

Type

Type: Mauritius [Insula Franciae], Jos. Martia s.n. (P, holo.)

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, fairly robust, up to 130 cm tall, with a thick creeping rhizome and purple to blackish-brown roots.

Morphology Culms

Culms crowded, 55–120 cm long, 3–7 mm wide, terete to trigonous, smooth

Morphology Leaves

Leaf sheath reddish-brown to dark purple, 2–32 cm long Leaves with blades absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts scale-like to almost leaf-like, spreading, 3–4, lowermost 1.5–3(–11) cm long, 2–5 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a simple to compound anthela, primary branches up to 50–100, all equal in length giving the inflorescence a spherical to umbel-like appearance, 3–11 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets in digitate clusters, at the end of primary and sometimes secondary branches, 1–5 per cluster, linear to ovoid-lanceolate, 2.7–15 mm long, 0.9–1.9 mm wide, rachis straight.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes pale reddish-brown, ovate, 1.1–1.6 mm long, 0.7–1 mm wide, keel pale brown to green, apex rounded to acute, slightly excurrent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 0.9–1.6 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 0.5–1.2 mm long, with spiny apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet white to almost brown, obovoid, 0.4–0.5 mm long, 0.3–0.4 mm wide, almost smooth to minutely papillose.

Ecology

Swamp edges, stream-sides, seasonally flooded grasslands and in and along permanent pools, especially along the coastal areas; sea-level up to 450 m

Conservation

Least Concern; common habitat and within the distribution area is common to abundant.

Note

" Richards 25209 from Mbulu/Singida District: Yaida Swamp, Jan. 1970 has very sharply angled stems and comes from 1430 m altitude, quite beyond the normal range. Wingfield 2124 from Dar University Campus (Aug. 1972) has similarly sharply angled stems. Easily recognizable due to its inflorescence shape, which shows resemblance to C. papyrus, making this taxon somewhat like a dwarf version.

Distribution

Range: Somalia, Mozambique, South Africa; Madagascar Flora districts: K7 T6 T8 Z P