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Cyperus cephalotes - Vahl

Common Name Bhada, Flat Sedges, Nut Sedges or Umbrella Sedge.
Family Cyperaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats On floating islands in tanks, the roots entangled in the mass of the decaying surface vegetation of plants such as Pistia sp. and Salvinia sp. Also found floating in rivers[451 ]. Found at low elevations up to 100 metres[451 ].
Range This species occurs in India, South East Asia, New Guinea and Queensland in northern Australia. In China, it has been report from in Fujian province only.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Wet Soil Water Plants Full sun
Cyperus cephalotes Bhada, Flat Sedges, Nut Sedges or Umbrella Sedge.


wikimedia.org Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Cyperus cephalotes Bhada, Flat Sedges, Nut Sedges or Umbrella Sedge.
wikimedia.org Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Cyperus cephalotes is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) 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. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers wet soil and can grow in water.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Anosporum cephalotes Kurz Anosporum monocephalum Nees Cyperus monogynus Boeckeler Ficinia foliaceo-bracteata Pfeiff. Hydroschoenus kyllingioides Zoll. & Moritzi Trentepohlia bifoliata Boeck

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.


The rhizomes possess anti-emetic values and act as a sedative in dyspeptic disorders, particularly in vomiting during pregnancy.

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

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Other Uses

The stems are used for mat-making[317 ]. The stems are made into green mats called 'Riukiu-omote' in Japan[46 ]. A great plant for a background or screening area in the pond. It can also be planted as a single plant in a water feature to add a more tropical look to an area.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Biomass  Management: Hay  Regional Crop

This species is mostly aquatic, growing in still or slow running water up to 0.5 m deep. It also occurs in floating inland rivers, with roots entangled in a mass of Pistia, Salvinia, and decayed water plants. Fresh water.

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

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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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

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

Coming Soon

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.

Yes

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Least Concern. It has been listed as threatened in Queensland, Australia. Listed as endangered under Schedule 1 of the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (Cwlth).

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cyperus aristatusBearded nutsedgePerennial1.5 7-10  LMNMWe202
Cyperus articulatusJointed flatsedge, Priprioca, PiripiriPerennial1.8 10-12 FLMHNMWeWa142
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 textilisFlat sedge, Basket grass,Perennial1.5 9-12 FLMHFSNMWeWa004
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.

 

Expert comment

Author

Vahl

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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Subject : Cyperus cephalotes  
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