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Cyperus textilis - Thunb.

Common Name Flat sedge, Basket grass,
Family Cyperaceae
USDA hardiness 9-12
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats Along the coast in wet places or in still or flowing shallow water along streams and rivers, 5-1,680m.; Perennial Helophyte.
Range South Africa - Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Wet Soil Water Plants Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Cyperus textilis Flat sedge, Basket grass,


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Cyperus textilis Flat sedge, Basket grass,
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Cyperus textilis is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can grow in water. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Cyperus asperifolius Desf. Cyperus burchellii Schrad. Cyperus smithii Schrad.Eucyperus pungens Rikli. Eucyperus textilis (Thunb.) Rikli

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

None Known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None Known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Cyperus textilis is an important material for the weaving of mats, basketry and ropemaking. It is a traditional building material for peoples of southern Africa, particularly the Khoi who primarily use the plant to weave mats as a hut covering, bound in place by twine made from the same plant. The rope is also used to bind thatch (South African National Biodiversity Insitute 2008). Reed beds with Cyperus textilis and similar plants (reeds, bulrushes and sedges) are used worldwide to clean polluted water. The plants take up the excess nitrogen and phosphates from treated sewage, and have also proved effective in removing heavy metals and phenolic compounds from waste water. Carbon Farming Solutions - Industrial Crop: biomass. (Crops grown for non-food uses. Industrial crops provide resources in three main categories: materials, chemicals, and energy. Traditional materials include lumber and thatch, paper and cardboard, and textiles) [1-1].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Biomass  Management: Hay  Regional Crop

Climate: Mediterranean, warm temperate. Humidity: aquatic. Plant in sun or semi-shade. In bright sun the clumps will be more compact and the stems more closely packed, whereas in the shade the plants will grow taller with fewer stems giving a more graceful effect. Grows in any good soil. Can grow in shallow water, waterlogged soil and moist soil. Can be grown in containers or water features. Good for heavy clay soils. A tender perennial, surviving with minimum is -7ºC / 30ºF (USDA zone 9). Frost kills the foliage but the plant will resprout in spring provided the roots were not frozen. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: hay (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1].

Carbon Farming

  • Industrial Crop: Biomass  Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels
  • Management: Hay  Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Division of the clumps is best - use young growth and discard old growth. Seed. Cuttings. Cuttings take the top 5cm (2inch), including the 'umbrella'.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Flat sedge, Basket grass, umbrella sedge, mat sedge, Matjiesgoed (afrikaans), umuzi (xhosa)

Native Range

AFRICA: South Africa (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Least Concern

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cyperus aristatusBearded nutsedgePerennial1.5 7-10  LMNMWe202
Cyperus articulatusJointed flatsedge, Priprioca, PiripiriPerennial1.8 10-12 FLMHNMWeWa142
Cyperus cephalotesBhada, Flat Sedges, Nut Sedges or Umbrella Sedge.Perennial0.3 10-12 FLMHNWeWa012
Cyperus distansSlender Cyperus, Piedmont flatsedgePerennial0.5 0-0  LMNMWe112
Cyperus esculentusTiger Nut, Yellow nutsedge, Nut GrassPerennial0.9 8-10 FLMHNMWe423
Cyperus fendlerianusFendler's FlatsedgePerennial1.5 -  LMNMWe202
Cyperus giganteusPiripiri, Mexican PapyrusPerennial1.5 9-11 FLMHNWeWa023
Cyperus longusGalingalePerennial1.2 6-9 FLMHNMWeWa213
Cyperus papyrusPapyrus. Papyrus sedgePerennial5.0 9-12 FLMHNWeWa222
Cyperus rotundusNut GrassPerennial0.6 0-0  LMNMWe332
Cyperus schweinitziiFlatsedge, Schweinitz's flatsedgePerennial0.8 0-0  LMNMWe202
Cyperus setigerusLean flatsedgePerennial1.0 0-0  LMNMWe202
Cyperus tegetiformis Perennial0.0 -  LMNMWe002
Cyperus ustulatus Perennial1.2 -  LMNMWe002

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Subject : Cyperus textilis  
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