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Cyperus rotundus
Clara Oliva Gonçalves Bazzo
Cyperus rotundus
Considered one of the most important
invasive plants in the world.
Source: Dreamstime.com
Areas infested with C. rotundus show great
reduction in populations and productivity.
Taxonomy
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Spermatophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Monocotyledonae
Order: Cyperales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Cyperus
Species: Cyperus rotundus
Source: Wikipedia.com Source: phuctamduong.com
Common names
English: coco grass; java grass; nut sedge; nutgrass; purple nut-grass;
purple nutsedge; red grass; red nut sedge; water grass
Spanish: castanuela; cebolleta; chufa; chufila; cipero; contra yerba;
corocilla; cortadera; jonquillo; juncea; lengua de gallina; negrillo;
paraquita; pasto bolita; totorilla
French: souchet an forme d'olive
Chinese: xiang fu zi
Portuguese: alho-bravo; capim-alho; capim-dandá; junca de conta;
tiririca; tiririca-vermelha
Germany: Apotheker-Cypergras; Asiatisches-Cypergras; Runde-Cypergras;
Runde-Zyperwurzel
Origin and Distribution
Source: www.cabi.org
Botanic Description
Herbaceous plant, with a size of 15 to 50
cm in tropical conditions;
Leaves are arranged in the form of the
triangle in the lower third ;
Sheaths are closed forming the stem with
triangular section, and absence of ligule;
Inflorescence develops in the apical part
of the stems, in antela of simple or slightly
branched axes;
Rays numbered from three to nine, have
irregular lengths;
In the apical part of each ray there is a
set of linear spighets.
Source: FloraSBS Source: FloraSBS
Botanic Description
Botanic Description
Source: pukkaherbs.com
Botanic Description
The roots are fibrous, thin, and deepen
to more than one meter.
Source: Syngenta
Life Cycle
In Brazil, it is estimated that 50% of the soils are infested with C. rotundus.
Also in Brazil, nutsedge, at 600 to 1600 plants/m2, reduced the production of garlic
in 89%, okra in 62%, carrot in 43%, and tomato in 53%.
In Colombia, in maize crop competition in the field for 30 days reduces grain yield
by 30%.
Uses
Tubers have already been used for medicinal purposes in Africa, China,
Southeastern Europe and India, as a medicine for malaria, as an
aphrodisiac and as an insect repellent.
Chemical control is one of the most effective control methods which are
known for C. rotundus. However, it has not yet been possible to eradicate
this plant with the use of the chemical method alone.
Source: Embrapa - BR
Control
The use of biological control to C. rotundus has been intensively studied with
many microorganisms, however, few cause significant damage to the weed.