Cyperus compressus L.

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Cyperus compressus

Bulozi Plain
Feb 1999
Photocopy by Mike Bingham

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Synonyms:
Common names: Sikwizi (Lozi)
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Annual up to 60 cm tall, slender to robust, culm 10─46 cm long, 1─3 mm wide, 3-angled, glabrous. Leaves up to 49 cm long, leaf sheath pale brown to red to purplish 0.5─6 cm long; leaf blade linear, flat, 10-13 cm long, 2─5 mm wide, glabrous. Inflorescence a simple anthela, primary branches 2─7, 0.5─13 cm long; spikelets in digitate clusters, sessile and at the end of primary branches, 4─12 per cluster, linear-oblong; glumes pale green to pale brown.
Type location:
America
Notes: Red data list status: widespread, not threatened.
Has been suggested as an ornamental pot plant (Gordon-Gray).
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: Temporary pools, riverine sand bars, cultivation.
Altitude range: Up to 1200 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Regional distribution: Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.
Global distribution: western, eastern and southern Africa, Asia, Americas.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): B
Zambian distribution (Provinces): W
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Thursday 2 February 2017
Literature:

Gordon-Gray, K.D. (1995). Cyperaceae in Natal Strelitzia 2 Page 54.

Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 529. (Includes a picture).

Hoenselaar, K., Verdcourt, B. & Beentje, H.J. (2010). Cyperaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 209 - 210. (Includes a picture).

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 87.

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 118.

Other sources of information about Cyperus compressus:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Cyperus compressus
Flora of Malawi: Cyperus compressus
Flora of Mozambique: Cyperus compressus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Cyperus compressus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Cyperus compressus
African Plant Database: Cyperus compressus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Cyperus compressus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Cyperus compressus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Cyperus compressus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Cyperus compressus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Cyperus compressus
JSTOR Plant Science: Cyperus compressus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Cyperus compressus
Plants of the World Online: Cyperus compressus
Tropicos: Cyperus compressus
Wikipedia: Cyperus compressus


Copyright: Mike Bingham, Annette Willemen, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Mark Hyde, 2011-24

Bingham, M.G., Willemen, A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. and Hyde, M.A. (2024). Flora of Zambia: Species information: Cyperus compressus.
https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=109450, retrieved 19 March 2024

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