atoll research bulletin no. 392 the flora of - Smithsonian Institution ...

Cyperus iria L. I' sedge"
Recent introduction. Sedge up to 40. cm high; leaves, few, shorter than culms;
inflorescence, branched spikes, about 2.5 cm long, 12- to 20-flowered, spikelets about 6
mm long, bracts longer than inflorescences; fruit, a 3-angled, narrowly ovoid, yellow-
brown achene. Rare weed. 5(90a).
Cyperus javanicus Houtt "sedge", "marsh cypress"
reyenbangabanga (N); te ritanin (K); mouku (T)
syns. C. canescens Vahl; C. pennatus Lam.; C. stuppeus F0rst.f.; Mariscus
javanicus (Houtt.) Merr. ; M. albescens Gaud. ; M. pennatus (Lam .)
Domin; M. stuppeus (F0rst.f.) Merr.
Indigenous? Paleotropical. Abundant. Large perennial tufted sedge, up to 1 m
high, with triangular stems; leaves, 7 mm or more wide, are often longer than flowering
stems, firm, rough, serrulate; inflorescence, compound umbrella-like flower clusters, to
about 15 cm across, with branched rays, up to 10 cm long, bearing spikes, to nearly 2.5
cm to 3.5 cm long, and crowded green to brownish spikelets, about 4 to 8 mm long;
fruit, 1.5 mm long, 3-angled, ellipsoid, dark-brown or black achene. Found growing wild
in isolated clusters and tufts and in colonies or dense populations in moist habitats on the
coastal strip, surrounding Buada Lagoon, on the inner border of the coastal strand, and
occasionally in mined areas. Stems used as stringers for garlands and for stringing fish;
swollen bottoms eaten occasionally in the past. The name "reyenbangabanga" means
literally the "surrounding border", referring to the way in which C. javanicus surrounds
parts of Buada Lagoon. 3(53634), 4(160N), 5(90), 6(218), 7(27824), 8(9576).
Cyperus papyrus L. "papyrus", "Egyptian paper"
Recent introduction. Africa and Mediterranean. Rare. Tall perennial clump-
forming green-stemmed sedge, 1 to 4 m high; leaves, basal ones reduced to bladeless
sheaths, the involucral leaves much shorter than inflorescence; inflorescence, umbel-like
flower cluster of tufted yellow-green flower heads on drooping threadlike rays, 10 to 40
cm long, with linear spikelets, 6 to 10 mm long and 1 mm across, bearing 6 to 20 scales;
fruit, an oblong, 3-angled achene. Planted ornamental. 5, 6.
Cyperus rotundus L. "nut sedge", "nut grass"
ibugibugi (N); te mutemute (K); mouku (T)
sz. C. _h~exexastachyos - - Rottb.
Pre-World War I1 introduction? Cosmopolitan. Common. Perennial tufted erect
sedge, 10 to 50 cm high, with hard, scaly brown-black tubers borne on underground
runners or rhizomes; leaves, 5 to 15 cm long and 2 to 5 mm wide, grass-like, folded