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Cyperus mindorensis (Steud.) Huygh
| Family Name: | Cyperaceae |
| Synonyms: | Kyllinga nemoralis (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Dandy ex Hutch. & Dalziel, Cyperus leucocephalus, Kyllinga cephalotes |
| Common Name: | White Kyllinga, Whitehead Spikesedge, White Water Sedge, 单穗水蜈蚣 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Grass or Grass-like Plant (Sedge (Cyperaceae)) |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Old World Tropics, Australia, Pacific Islands |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Agricultural Land, Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland, Disturbed Area / Open Ground) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Perennial sedge up to 0.6 m tall with a creeping growth habit. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The linear, 1.5-3 mm wide leaves are <55 cm tall and have a brown to purplish brown leaf sheath. |
| Stems | It spreads via a long rhizome (underground horizontal stem) which produces flowering stems in tufts or singly. |
| Flowers | Its pompom-like inflorescence is a globose head consisting of many white spikelets. The 2.5-3 mm long spikelet is egg- to lance-shaped and composed of 1 flower and 5 boat-shaped glumes. The leafy bracts are radially distributed at the base of the inflorescence (up to 20 cm long). The flowering stem is hollow and triangular in cross-section. |
| Fruit | The dry, indehiscent fruit contains one seed and is known as an achene. The brown fruit is oblong to approximately round or shaped like a lens (1.2-1.5 mm long). |
| Habitat | Often found in wet grasslands or disturbed, moist areas up to 850 m above sea level. |
| Cultivation | This species is generally considered a weed and not cultivated. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: A decoction of the rhizomes is used to treat fever, while the entire plant is used to treat sprains and bruises. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stolon / Runner |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Spikelet / Compound Spike |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Achene |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32603 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 7015 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
