Cyperus exaltatus

  • admin_shalini
  • Cyperus
Herb
Erect, tufted, shortly rhizomatous perennials; rhizome short, woody; culms robust, 60-130 cm tall, trigonous, smooth. Leaves few, basal, 15-45 x 0.6-1.2 cm, linear, acute, flat, scabrid on margins; sheaths 5-20 cm long, spongy, purple-brown. Inflorescence compound to decompound, 15-30 cm across; leafy bracts 4-6, the longest upto 45 cm long; primary rays 5-9, unequal. Spike 2-5 x 1-1.5 cm, cylindrical, digitately disposed, subsessile or peduncled. Spikelets 6-10 x 1-2 mm, linear, flattened, reddish-brown. Glumes 1.5-2 x 1-1.5 mm, ovate, obtuse, mucronate, keel green, sides brown. Stamens 3. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 1 x 0.5 mm, elliptic, trigonous, yellow-brown. 
Flowering and fruiting: August-December
Wetlands and grasslands
Pantropical 
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Hooghly Today : Cyperus imbricatus Retz.? :
Bengal Plants has two species, both are likely to be found in our area –
  • Cyperus radiatus Vahl. = C. verticillatus Roxb., with 3 ft. stem (Bengal Plants & FBI) or 4 ft. (2 to 6) in FI (NOTE : the size in FoC & FoP)
  • Cyperus exaltatus Retz. = C. umbellatus Vahl. & C. alopecuroides Rottb. with 3 – 6 ft. stem
This cyperus, i found today in a DOBA (small degraded pond), above the waterline.
It has a culm of about 3 ft.
The following links represent C. imbricatus Retz., i think –

Since spikes in this thread are peduncled (pic. P1040215.jpg & P1040216.jpg) this is Cyperus exaltatus Retz.

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Grass for ID : Attachments (3). 8 posts by 6 authors.
Date/Time- 01st Sept 2010
Location- Place, Altitude, GPS- Bandhavgarh Ntl Park
Habitat- Garden/ Urban/ Wild/ Type- Wild
Plant Habit- Tree/ Shrub/ Climber/ Herb-  Grass
Height/Length- three foot
Apart from ID if can someone on the group tell us about the palatability of this grass??
It has grown so tall and seeding shows that animals don’t like to feed on this??
I am sure that the same Grass must be growing in Satpura, so how is the situation there?

This is a sedge, not a grass.
Cyperus sp. may be (Cyperaceae)

Cyperus indeed not sure of the species

your plant looks like Cyperus esculentus
locally called Nagar Motha
It generally grows in riparian areas especially in river beds,

Bulls eye target …

Feedback from another thread:
I may be very wrong. but this one looks similar to the ones labelled as C. digitatus Roxb. at – http://89sky.net/vbb/showthread.php?p=37010.

I am attaching two photos, recorded on 15/8/13 in a low land, a tall cyperus what i think as C. digitatus R. There is a special note in Flora Indica, about “6 ft.” tall and a variety in Flora of British India.

I would like to add that the culm of cyperus very obtusely three sided, almost rounded.

This is Cyperus sp. only, to me.

Seems to be Cyperus exaltatus Retz.