Cyperus odoratus L.=Cyperus ferax
Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)NativeCoarse CyperusFragrant Umbrella Sedge |
September Photo
Plant Characteristics:
Plants annual, culms 1 to several, stout, smooth, glabrous, triangular,
the angles rounded, 20-50 cm. tall; lvs. several to many, as long as or longer
than the culms, the blades plicate, channeled above, 3-8 mm. wide, the margin
with minute, stout prickles; invol. lvs. several, 5-30 cm. long, very unequal in
length, plicate; infl. simulating a compound spike, the rays arising from the
top of the culm and umbellately spreading, branching into secondary rays each in
the axil of an involucel leaf, the rays becoming enlarged in age; spikelets
linear, subterete, 10-25 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide, disarticulating above the
sterile basal pair of scales when ripe; scales 7-9 nerved, yellowish-brown,
ovate, obtuse, sheathing the rachis.
Habitat:
Common in moist sandy places at low elevs.; several Plant Communities;
cismontane s. Calif. to Cent. V.; w. Mojave Desert; Imperial V.;
transcontinental; Asia. July-Oct.
Name:
Greek, cypeiros, the classical
name. Latin, ferax,
fertile, rich. (Jaeger 102).
Latin, odoratus, sweet
smelling. (Jaeger 171).
General:
Rare in the study area, found in only one place, and this along Back Bay
Dr., at the base of the hill near its termination at Eastbluff Dr.
There is a seep here, from the bank which fills what was a gully at one
time. (my comments).
Indians of the lower Colorado desert used digging sticks of various
materials to dig cattail rhizomes, Typha spp., yellow nut grass, Cyperus
esculentus, and coarse Cyperus, Cyperus odoratus.
The Cyperus tubers were parched, pounded in a mortar and
eaten. (Campbell 74). A genus of about
600 spp., of trop. and temp. regions.
(Munz, Flora So. Calif. 896).
Text Ref:
Abrams Vol. I 261; Hickman, Ed. 1139; Mason 279; Roberts 43.
Photo Ref:
Aug 1 84 # 24; Sept 1 86 # 1; Aug, Sept, Oct 88 # 5,6.
Identity: by R. De Ruff,
confirmed by F. Roberts.
First Found: August 1984.
Computer Ref: Plant Data 309
Have plant specimen.
Last edit 5/6/05.
August Photo