Cyperus involucratus Rottb. =Cyperus alternifolius Cyperaceae (Sedge Family Africa Umbrella Sedge African Umbrella Sedge

                                         June Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Perennial from tough cord-like roots; triangular stems with rounded corners; culms 3-15 dm. tall, 14-22 spreading leaflike bracts 1-3 dm. long, more than other Cyperus found locally; spikelets oblong, 5-10 mm. long, pale, 10-30 fld., falling away from the head or persistent and then the scales deciduous, rachis straight, offset or zigzag, unwinged or frequently bearing a pair of wings at each note, these being the decurrent bases of the next distal scale;  basal lf. blades 0; fr. 0.6-0.8 mm., finely pitted.

Habitat:  Common cultivated plant, occasionally naturalized.  Blooms most of the year.

Name:  Greek, kyperios, a rush, sedge.  Latin, alterno, alternate and folius, leaf.  (Jaeger 14,74,104).  The species name apparently refers to the growth pattern of the involucral bracts. (my comment).  New Latin, involucrum, envelope, to roll up, wrap up.  (Jaeger 129).  John Johnson suggests that involucratus may refer to the fact that the many leaflike bracts form an involucre-like cluster around the inflorescence.

General:  Occasional in the study area.  Photographed on the North Star flats and the Santa Ana Heights flats.  (my comment).      This species, the papyrus of literature, was introduced from Madagascar and has escaped from cultivation to a limited extent.  (Robbins et al. 115).      Cyperus papyrus was used by the ancient Egyptians to make writing paper.  (Funk & Wagnalls New Comprehensive International dictionary of the English Language 913).  The stems of C. papyrus were pounded and pressed into continuous sheets or scrolls.   See C. esculentus for a description of the papyrus making process.  (my comment).      C. alternifolius misapplied.  (Hickman, Ed. 1139).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 1139; Munz, Calif. Flora 1426;  Munz, Flora So. Calif. 896;  Roberts 42.

Photo Ref:  June 4 83 # 23; June 6 83 # 6.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 19.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 12/20/02.