Cyperus rotundus

Cyperus rotundus L., Sp. Pl. 1: 45. 1753; Boiss., Fl. Or. 5: 376. 1882; Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 614. 1894; Collett, Fl. Siml. ed. 2: 557. 1921 (Reprint 1983); Sharma & Kachroo, Fl. Jammu (Illustr.) 2: t. 284. 1983; Kaur & Sharma, Fl. Sirmaur 637. 2004; Singh & Sharma, Fl. Chamba Dist. 727. 2006; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 23: 232; Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org vol. 23: 169; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org Pakistan V. 206, p. 110.

Perennial, erect. Rhizome subterranean, stoloniferous, stolons many, long, creeping, thickened at intervals into dark brown, woody, ellipsoidal tubers, up to 2 cm long. Stems (culms) usually solitary, 10-50 cm long, 1-2.5 mm diameter, slender, triquetrous, smooth, base swollen into tuber. Leaves basal, usually shorter than stem, sometimes equalling stem; sheath brown, usually disintegrating into fibres; leaf blade green, flat, up to 31 cm long and 2-5 mm wide, margin towards apex barbed, nerve scaberulous, apex long attenuate, acute. Involucral bracts at apex of culm below inflorescence, 3-5, longer to shorter than inflorescence, 1-15 cm x 1-5 mm, foliose to linear, margin and abaxial nerve scabrid. Inflorescence a simple or compound anthela (umbel-like); rays 3-9, up to 10 cm long, unequal in length, spreading. Spikes obdeltoid, with 3-11 slightly laxly arranged spikelets. Spikelets obliquely spreading, linear, 1-3.5 cm x 1.5-2 mm, many flowered (8-44), rachilla wings white, slightly broad, hyaline. Glumes blood-red to purplish brown on both surfaces, but middle green, imbricate, keeled, ovate to oblong- ovate, 2-3 mm x 1-1.5 mm, 5-7 nerved, apex subacute to obtuse, muticous. Perianth absent. Stamens 3, free; anthers linear, ca. 1.5 mm long, connective prominent beyond anthers. Styles long, ca. 1 mm long; stigmas 3, longer than the style, 2+ mm, exserted from glume. Nutlets obovoid-oblong, ca. 1.3-0.8 mm, trigonous, dark brown.

Flowering and Fruiting: Almost throughout the year
Common Names: Common Nut Sedge, Coco grass, Nut grass, Purple nut Sedge, Java grass, Red nut Sedge