Scientific name: Cyperus involucratus Rottb.Synonym: Cyperus flabelliformis Rottb.Common name:Umbrella sedgeFamily: CyperaceaeOrigin:Native of Africa. Habit:Perennial herb with 3-angled to almost cylindrical 45-120 cm tall stems carrying leafy bracts beneath clustered inflorescences, true leaves are reduced to long sheaths on the stems. Habitat:This plant was introduced as an ornamental, it has become naturalised in damp areas. General description:Stems and leavesStems are 3-angled to almost cylindrical, 3-5 mm thick and rigid. They are hairless and ridged longitudinally. True leaves are the long sheaths covering the base of the stems. Flowers and fruitThe inflorescence has about eight (5-10 cm) stalks radiating from the top of the stem. There may be branching into secondary stalks 1-2 cm long. The oblong-linear spikelets are arranged in hemispherical clusters. At the base of the inflorescence is a whorl of 12-22 green leafy bracts up to 1.5 cm wide and greater in length than the branches of the inflorescence. Seeds are ochre, ellipsoid, triangular in cross-section, with a small ‘beak’ at the apex and about a millimetre long. Distinguishing characteristics:Reed-like plant with leaves reduced to sheaths. The green leafy inflorescences are up to 120 cm tall. Noxious status:Not noxious. Sources:Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 3. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane. Anonymous. (1994). Queensland Vacsular Plants: Names and Distribution. Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane. |