Cyperus

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Cladus: Commelinids
Ordo: Poales

Familia: Cyperaceae
Subfamilia: Cyperoideae
Tribus: Cypereae
Genus: Cyperus
Species
a

C. abietinus – C. absconditicoronatus – C. acaulescens – C. acholiensis – C. acuminatus – C. acuticarinatus – C. aethiops – C. affinis – C. africanus – C. afro-occidentalis – C. afroalpinus – C. afrodunensis – C. afromontanus – C. afropumilus – C. afrorobustus – C. afrovaricus – C. aggregatus – C. ajax – C. alaticaulis – C. alatus – C. albescens – C. albopilosus – C. albopurpureus – C. albosanguineus – C. albostriatus – C. albus – C. algeriensis – C. almensis – C. alopecuroides – C. alterniflorus – C. alternifolius – C. altochrysocephalus – C. altomicroglumis – C. altsonii – C. alulatus – C. alvesii – C. amabilis – C. amauropus – C. amuricus – C. anderssonii – C. angolensis – C. angustatus – C. anisitsii – C. ankaizinensis – C. ankaratrensis – C. antillanus – C. appendiculatus – C. appendiculatus – C. appendiculatus – C. appendiculatus – C. aquatilis – C. arenarius – C. aristulatus – C. armstrongii – C. aromaticus – C. arsenei – C. articulatus – C. assimilis – C. astartodes – C. aster – C. aterrimus – C. atkinsonii – C. atractocarpus – C. atriceps – C. aucheri – C. aureoalatus – C. aureobrunneus – C. auriculatus – C. aurifer – C. austroafricanus – C. austrochrysanthus
b

C. babakan – C. balfourii – C. baobab – C. baoulensis – C. baronii – C. bellus – C. benadirensis – C. bernieri – C. berroi – C. betafensis – C. betchei – C. betchei – C. betchei – C. beyrichii – C. bifolius – C. bipartitus – C. blakeanus – C. blepharoleptos – C. blysmoides – C. boreobellus – C. boreochrysocephalus – C. boreohemisphaericus – C. bowmanni – C. breedlovei – C. breviculmis – C. brevifolioides – C. brevifolius – C. brumadoi – C. brunneofibrosus – C. brunnescens – C. brunneus – C. bulbosus – C. burkartii
c

C. caesius – C. calderoniae – C. camphoratus – C. cancrorum – C. canus – C. capensis – C. capitatus – C. carinatus – C. castaneobellus – C. castaneus – C. cearaensis – C. celans – C. cellulosoreticulatus – C. centralis – C. cephalanthus – C. cephalotes – C. chaetophyllus – C. chalaranthus – C. chamaecephalus – C. chermezonianus – C. chersinus – C. chevalieri – C. chinsalensis – C. chionocephalus – C. chlorocephalus – C. chordorrhizus – C. chorisanthus – C. chrysocephalus – C. ciliatus – C. cinereobrunneus – C. clandestinus – C. clarkei – C. clarus – C. clavinux – C. columbiensis – C. colymbetes – C. commixtus – C. compactus – C. compressus – C. concinnus – C. confertus – C. congensis – C. congestus – C. conglomeratus – C. conglomeratus – C. conglomeratus – C. conicus – C. consors – C. constanzae – C. coriifolius – C. cornelii-ostenii – C. correllii – C. corymbosus – C. costaricensis – C. cracens – C. crassipes – C. cremeomariscus – C. crispulus – C. cristulatus – C. croceus – C. cruentus – C. crypsoides – C. cundudoensis – C. cunninghamii – C. cunninghamii – C. cunninghamii – C. cunninghamii – C. curvistylis – C. cuspidatus – C. cylindrostachyus – C. cymulosus – C. cyperinus – C. cyperoides – C. cyprius
d

C. dactyliformis – C. dactylotes – C. davidsei – C. debilis – C. debilissimus – C. deciduus – C. decompositus – C. decurvatus – C. densibulbosus – C. dentatus – C. dentoniae – C. denudatus – C. derreilema – C. diamantinus – C. diandrus – C. dichromeniformis – C. dichromus – C. dichrostachyus – C. dietrichiae – C. difformis – C. diffusus – C. digitatus – C. dilatatus – C. dioicus – C. dipsaceus – C. disjunctus – C. distans – C. distinctus – C. diurensis – C. dives – C. diwakarii – C. drakensbergensis – C. dregeanus – C. drummondii – C. dubius – C. duclouxii – C. dunensis – C. duripes – C. durus
e

C. eboracensis – C. echinatus – C. eglobosus – C. ekmanii – C. elatus – C. elegans – C. elegantulus – C. elephantinus – C. endlichii – C. enervis – C. entrerianus – C. ephemerus – C. eragrostis – C. erectus – C. eremicus – C. erinaceus – C. erythrorhizos – C. esculentus – C. exaltatus – C. exilis – C. expansus
f

C. fastigiatus – C. fauriei – C. feani – C. felipponei – C. fendlerianus – C. ferrugineoviridis – C. fertilis – C. filiculmis – C. filifolius – C. filiformis – C. filipes – C. fischerianus – C. fissus – C. flaccidus – C. flavescens – C. flavidus – C. flavoculmis – C. flexuosus – C. floribundus – C. floridanus – C. foliaceus – C. forskalianus – C. friburgensis – C. fucosus – C. fulgens – C. fuligineus – C. fulvoalbescens – C. fulvus – C. fuscescens – C. fuscovaginatus – C. fuscus
g

C. gardneri – C. gayi – C. giganteus – C. gigantobulbes – C. gilesii – C. glaber – C. glaucophyllus – C. glomeratus – C. graciliculmis – C. gracilis – C. granatensis – C. grandibulbosus – C. grandifolius – C. grandis – C. grandisimplex – C. granitophilus – C. grayi – C. grayioides – C. grossianus – C. guatemalensis – C. gubanii – C. guianensis – C. gunnii – C. gymnocaulos – C. gypsophilus – C. gyraudinii
h

C. haematocephalus – C. hainanensis – C. hakonensis – C. hamulosus – C. harrisii – C. haspan – C. hayesii – C. helferi – C. hemisphaericus – C. hensii – C. hermaphroditus – C. hesperius – C. heterocladus – C. hieronymi – C. hilairenus – C. hilgendorfianus – C. hillebrandii – C. hirtellus – C. holoschoenus – C. holostigma – C. holstii – C. hortensis – C. houghtonii – C. humilis – C. hyalinus – C. hypochlorus – C. hypopitys – C. hystricinus
i

C. imbecillis – C. imbricatus – C. impolitus – C. impubes – C. inaequalis – C. incompressus – C. incomtus – C. indecorus – C. indecorus – C. indecorus – C. indecorus – C. infucatus – C. inops – C. insularis – C. intricatus – – C. isabellinus – C. ischnos – C. ivohibensis – C. ixiocarpusC. iria
j

C. javanicus – C. jeminicus – C. juncelliformis
k

C. kabarensis – C. kaessneri – C. kappleri – C. karisimbiensis – C. karlschumannii – C. karthikeyanii – C. kasamensis – C. kerstenii – C. kibweanus – C. kilimandscharicus – C. kipasensis – C. kirkii – C. kituiensis – C. koyaliensis – C. kurzii – C. kwaleensis – C. kyllingiella – C. kyllingiformis
l

C. lacunosus – C. lacustris – C. laeteflorens – C. laetus – C. laevigatus – C. laevis – C. lancastriensis – C. lateriticus – C. latifolius – C. latzii – C. laxiflorus – C. laxispicatus – C. laxus – C. lecontei – C. leiocaulon – C. lentiginosus – C. leptocarpus – C. leptocladus – C. leucocephalus – C. lhotskyanus – C. ligularis – C. limiticola – C. limosus – C. linearispiculatus – C. lipocarphioides – C. locuples – C. longi-involucratus – C. longifolius – C. longispicula – C. longistylus – C. longus – C. lucidus – C. luerssenii – C. lundellii – C. lupulinus – C. luteus – C. luzulae
m

C. macer – C. macropachycephalus – C. macrophyllus – C. macrorrhizus – C. maculatus – C. maderaspatanus – C. majungensis – C. malaccensis – C. malawicus – C. mangorensis – C. manimae – C. mapanioides – C. maranguensis – C. margaritaceus – C. marginatus – C. marlothii – C. marojejyensis – C. marquisensis – C. matagoroensis – C. matudae – C. mauretaniensis – C. medusaeus – C. meeboldii – C. megalanthus – C. meistostylus – C. meridionalis – C. meyenianus – C. meyerianus – C. michelianus – C. michoacanensis – C. micrantherus – C. microaureus – C. microbolbos – C. microbrunneus – C. microcephalus – C. microcristatus – C. microglumis – C. microiria – C. micromariscus – C. micromedusaeus – C. micropelophilus – C. microumbellatus – C. miliifolius – C. mindorensis – C. mirus – C. mitis – C. mogadoxensis – C. molliglumis – C. mollipes – C. monospermus – C. moutona – C. mudugensis – C. multifolius – C. multinervatus – C. multispicatus – C. multispiceus – C. mundulus – C. muniziae – C. mutisii – C. mwinilungensis – C. myrmecias
n

C. nanellus – C. nanus – C. natalensis – C. nayaritensis – C. nduru – C. nemoralis – C. neoguinensis – C. neokunthianus – C. neotropicalis – C. nervosostriatus – C. niger – C. nigrofuscus – C. niigatensis – C. nipponicus – C. niveoides – C. niveus – C. noeanus – C. nutans – C. nyasensis – C. nyererei
o

C. obbiadensis – C. oblongoincrassatus – C. obtusatus – C. obtusus – C. ochraceus – C. odoratus – C. ohwii – C. okavangensis – C. onerosus – C. orgadophilus – C. ornatus – C. orthostachyus – C. ossicaulis – C. ovatus – C. owanii – C. oxycarpus – C. oxylepis
p

C. pachycephalus – C. pachyrhizus – C. pacificus – C. palianparaiensis – C. pallidicolor – C. palmatus – C. panamensis – C. pandanophyllum – C. pangorei – C. paniceus – C. pannonicus – C. paolii – C. papyrus – C. parishii – C. pearcei – C. pectinatus – C. pedunculatus – C. pedunculosus – C. pendulus – C. penicillatus – C. pennatiformis – C. pennellii – C. pentabracteatus – C. penzoanus – C. perangustus – C. perennis – C. permacer – C. pernambucensis – C. perrieri – C. pertenuis – C. phaeolepis – C. phillipsiae – C. phleoides – C. picardae – C. pilosulus – C. pilosus – C. pinetorum – C. planifolius – C. plantaginifolius – C. plateilema – C. platycaulis – C. platyphyllus – C. platystylis – C. plukenetii – C. pluribracteatus – C. pluricephalus – C. plurinervosus – C. podocarpus – C. poecilus – C. poeppigii – C. pohlii – C. polyanthelus – C. polystachyos – C. portae-tartari – C. praemorsus – C. pratensis – C. procerus – C. prolifer – C. prolixus – C. psammophilus – C. pseuderemicus – C. pseudobrunneus – C. pseudodistans – C. pseudokyllingioides – C. pseudopetiolatus – C. pseudopilosus – C. pseudosomaliensis – C. pseudothyrsiflorus – C. pseudovegetus – C. pseudovestitus – C. pubens – C. pulchellus – C. pulcher – C. pulcherrimus – C. pulguerensis – C. pulicaris – C. purpureoviridis – C. pustulatus – C. pycnostachyus
r

C. radians – C. ramosus – C. rapensis – C. recurvispicatus – C. redolens – C. reduncus – C. reflexus – C. refractus – C. regiomontanus – C. rehmii – C. remotispicatus – C. remotus – C. renschii – C. retroflexus – C. retrofractus – C. retrorsus – C. rheophyticus – C. rhynchosporoides – C. rigens – C. rigidellus – C. rigidifolius – C. robinsonii – C. rockii – C. rohlfsii – C. rotundus – C. rubicundus – C. rufostriatus – C. rupestris – C. rupicola
s

C. sahelii – C. sandwicensis – C. sanguineoater – C. sanguinolentus – C. sartorii – C. scaber – C. scabricaulis – C. scariosus – C. schaffneri – C. schimperianus – C. schinzii – C. schlechteri – C. schomburgkianus – C. schweinfurthii – C. schweinitzii – C. sciaphilus – C. scleropodus – C. sculptus – C. secubans – C. seemannianus – C. semifertilis – C. semiochraceus – C. semitrifidus – C. sensilis – C. serotinus – C. seslerioides – C. sesquiflorus – C. setigerus – C. sexangularis – C. sexflorus – C. sharonensis – C. sharpei – C. sieberianus – C. sikkimensis – C. silletensis – C. simaoensis – C. simplex – C. simpsonii – C. solidifolius – C. solidus – C. somalidunensis – C. somaliensis – C. soongoricus – C. sordidus – C. soyauxii – C. spectabilis – C. sphacelatus – C. sphaerocephalus – C. sphaeroideus – C. sphaerolepis – C. sphaerospermus – C. spicigerus – C. splendens – C. sporobolus – C. squarrosus – C. steadii – C. stenophyllus – C. stoloniferus – C. stradbrokensis – C. stramineoferrugineus – C. strigosus – C. subaequalis – C. subbadius – C. subcaracasanus – C. subcastaneus – C. subfuscus – C. submicrolepis – C. subpapuanus – C. subparadoxus – C. subsquarrosus – C. subtenax – C. subtenuis – C. subtilis – C. subulatus – C. surinamensis – C. svensonii – C. swartzii – C. szechuanensis
t

C. tabina – C. tabularis – C. tacnensis – C. tanganyicanus – C. tanyphyllus – C. tatandaensis – C. tempeae – C. tenax – C. tenerrimus – C. tenuiculmis – C. tenuis – C. tenuispica – C. tenuispiculatus – C. tetracarpus – C. tetragonus – C. tetraphyllus – C. textilis – C. thomsonii – C. thorelii – C. thorncroftii – C. thunbergii – C. thyrsiflorus – C. tomaiophyllus – C. tonkinensis – C. trachysanthos – C. trailii – C. trialatus – C. trichodes – C. trigonellus – C. trinervis – C. trisulcus – C. turrialbanus – C. turrillii – C. tweediei
u

C. uitenhagensis – C. uncinulatus – C. undulatus – C. unicolor – C. unifolius – C. unispicatus – C. urbanii – C. usitatus – C. ustulatus
v

C. vaginatus – C. vandervekenii – C. varicus – C. ventricosus – C. vestitus – C. victoriensis – C. virens – C. viscidulus – C. volckmannii – C. volodia – C. vorsteri
w

C. wallichianus – C. whitmeei – C. wilburii – C. wissmannii
x

C. xanthostachyus – C. xerophilus
y

C. yadavii
z

C. zollingeri – C. zollingerioides
Nothospecies:

C. × amuricocompressus – C. × deamii – C. × insidiosus – C. × mesochorus – C. × turbatus

Name

Cyperus L., Sp. Pl. 1: 44. (1753)

Type species: Cyperus esculentus L. Sp. Pl. 1: 45. (1753
Designated by Britton (1907; Bull. Dept. Agric. Jamaica 5 (Suppl. 1):6)

Synonyms

Heterotypic
Kyllinga Rottb., Descr. Icon. Rar. Pl.: 12 (1773), nom. cons.
Remirea Aubl., Hist. Pl. Guiane 1: 44 (1775)
Thryocephalon J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Char. Gen. Pl.: 129 (1776)
Mariscus Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 11 (1788), nom. illeg.
Opetiola Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 14 (1788)
Adupla Bosc ex Juss. in G.-F.Cuvier, Dict. Sci. Nat. 1: 263 (1804)
Hypaelyptum Vahl, Enum. Pl. Obs. 2: 283 (1805), nom. rej.
Mariscus Vahl, Enum. Pl. Obs. 2: 372 (1805), nom. cons.
Papyrus Willd., Abh. Königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1812-1813: 70 (1812)
Pycreus P.Beauv., Fl. Oware 2: 48 (1816)
Lipocarpha R.Br. in J.H.Tuckey, Narr. Exped. Zaire: 459 (1818)
Distimus Raf., J. Phys. Chim. Hist. Nat. Arts 89: 105 (1819)
Killinga T.Lestib., Essai Cypér.: 28 (1819)
Torreya Raf., J. Phys. Chim. Hist. Nat. Arts 89: 105 (1819), nom. illeg.
Epiphystis Trin., Fund. Agrost.: 97 (1820)
Torulinium Desv. ex Ham., Prodr. Pl. Ind. Occid.: 15 (1825)
Anosporum Nees, Linnaea 9: 287 (1834)
Courtoisia Nees, Linnaea 9: 286 (1834), nom. illeg.
Hemicarpha Nees, Linnaea 9: 287 (1834)
Platylepis Kunth, Enum. Pl. 2: 269 (1837), nom. illeg.
Diclidium Schrad. ex Nees in C.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Bras. 2(1): 51 (1842)
Oxycaryum Nees in C.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Bras. 2(1): 90 (1842)
Pterachne Schrad. ex Nees in C.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Bras. 2(1): 62 (1842), nom. inval.
Pterogyne Schrad. ex Nees in C.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Bras. 2(1): nota (1842), nom. inval.
Galilea Parl., Fl. Palerm. 1: 297 (1845)
Hydroschoenus Zoll. & Moritzi, Syst. Verz.: 95 (1846)
Atomostylis Steud., Flora 33: 229 (1850)
Cyprolepis Steud., Flora 33: 229 (1850), nom. nud.
Pterocyperus Opiz, Seznam: 80 (1852)
Sorostachys Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 2: 71 (1854)
Ascolepis Nees ex Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 2: 105 (1855).
Borabora Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 2: 71 (1855)
Lyprolepis Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 2: 130 (1855)
Trentepohlia Boeckeler, Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 16: 249 (1858)
Crepidocarpus Klotzsch ex Boeckeler, Linnaea 36: 414 (1870)
Ungeria Nees ex C.B.Clarke, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21: 34 (1884)
Didymia Phil., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 8: 57 (1886)
Cylindrolepis Boeckeler, Bot. Centralbl. 39: 75 (1889)
Juncellus C.B.Clarke in J.D.Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 6: 594 (1893)
Chlorocyperus Rikli, Jahrb. Wiss. Bot. 27: 563 (1895)
Eucyperus Rikli, Jahrb. Wiss. Bot. 27: 568 (1895)
Acorellus Palla ex Kneuck., Allg. Bot. Z. Syst. 9: 68 (1903)
Duval-jouvea Palla in W.D.J.Koch, Syn. Deut. Schweiz. Fl., ed. 3, 3: 2555 (1905)
Sphaeromariscus E.G.Camus, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 1: 239 (1910)
Queenslandiella Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 415 (1915)
Mariscopsis Cherm., Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 25: 60 (1919)
Ascopholis C.E.C.Fisch., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1931: 104 (1931)
Volkiella Merxm. & Czech, Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. München 8: 317 (1953).
Sphaerocyperus Lye, Bot. Not. 125: 214 (1972)
Aliniella J.Raynal, Adansonia, n.s., 13: 157 (1973), nom. illeg.
Rikliella J.Raynal, Adansonia, n.s., 13: 154 (1973).
Alinula J.Raynal, Adansonia, n.s., 17: 43 (1977)
Marisculus Goetgh., Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 47: 444 (1977)
Kyllingiella R.W.Haines & Lye, Bot. Not. 131: 176 (1978)
Courtoisina Soják, Cas. Nár. Mus., Odd. Prír. 148: 193 (1979 publ. 1980)
Raynalia Soják, Cas. Nár. Mus., Odd. Prír. 148: 193 (1979 publ. 1980)
Indocourtoisia Bennet & Raizada, Indian Forester 107: 432 (1981), nom. illeg.
Pseudomariscus Rauschert, Taxon 31: 559 (1982), nom. illeg.

Note: The above circumscription is Cyperus s.l. and is not accepted by all authorities, for example eMonocot Team, 2015.
References

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 44.
eMonocot Team (2015) eMonocot Cyperaceae Cyperus (accessed 31 May 2015)
Govaerts, R. et al. 2015. Cyperus in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2015 June 7. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2015. Cyperus. Published online. Accessed: June 7 2015.
Tropicos.org 2015. Cyperus. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2015 June 7.

Vernacular names
Afrikaans: Biesies, Uintjies
العربية: سعد
azərbaycanca: Topalaq
беларуская: Сыць
čeština: Šáchor
Deutsch: Zypergräser
English: Papyrus Sedges, Umbrella Sedges
eesti: Lõikhein
suomi: Sädekaislat
עברית: גומא
hornjoserbsce: Cachor
日本語: カヤツリグサ属
lietuvių: Viksvuolė
polski: Cibora
Runa Simi: Runtuma
русский: Сыть, Циперус
svenska: Skärmagssläktet
తెలుగు: సైపరస్

Cyperus is a large genus of about 700 species of sedges, distributed throughout all continents in both tropical and temperate regions.[1][2]

Description

They are annual or perennial plants, mostly aquatic and growing in still or slow-moving water up to 0.5 m deep. The species vary greatly in size, with small species only 5 cm tall, while others can reach 5 m in height. Common names include papyrus sedges, flatsedges, nutsedges, umbrella-sedges and galingales. The stems are circular in cross-section in some, triangular in others, usually leafless for most of their length, with the slender grass-like leaves at the base of the plant, and in a whorl at the apex of the flowering stems. The flowers are greenish and wind-pollinated; they are produced in clusters among the apical leaves. The seed is a small nutlet.[3][4][5]
Ecology

Cyperus species are eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including Chedra microstigma. They also provide an alternative food source for Bicyclus anynana larvae.[6] The seeds and tubers are an important food for many small birds and mammals.

Cyperus microcristatus (from Cameroon) and C. multifolius (native to Panama and Ecuador) are possibly extinct; the former was only found once, in 1995, and the latter has not been seen in the last 200 years. The "true" papyrus sedge of Ancient Egypt, C. papyrus subsp. hadidii, is also very rare today due to draining of its wetland habitat; feared extinct in the mid-20th century, it is still found at a few sites in the Wadi El Natrun region and northern Sudan.

Some tuber-bearing species on the other hand, most significantly the purple nutsedge, C. rotundus, are considered invasive weeds in much of the world.
Diversity
Main article: List of Cyperus species

Around 700 species are currently recognised in the genus Cyperus.[7]
Fossil record

Many fossil fruits of a Cyperus species have been described from middle Miocene strata of the Fasterholt area near Silkeborg in Central Jutland, Denmark.[8] Several fossil fruits of †Cyperus distachyoformis have been extracted from borehole samples of the Middle Miocene fresh water deposits in Nowy Sacz Basin, West Carpathians, Poland.[9]
Use by humans

Papyrus sedge (C. papyrus) of Africa was of major historical importance in providing papyrus. C. giganteus, locally known as cañita, is used by the Yokot'an Maya of Tabasco, Mexico, for weaving petates (sleeping mats) and sombreros. C. textilis and C. pangorei are traditionally used to produce the typical mats of Palakkad in India, and the makaloa mats of Niihau were made from C. laevigatus.

The chufa flatsedge (C. esculentus) has edible tubers and is grown commercially for these; they are eaten as vegetables, made into sweets, or used to produce the horchata of the Valencia region. Several other species – e.g. Australian bush onion (C. bulbosus) – are eaten to a smaller extent. For some Northern Paiutes, Cyperus tubers were a mainstay food, to the extent that they were known as tövusi-dökadö ("nutsedge tuber eaters")[10]

Priprioca (C. articulatus) is one of the traditional spices of the Amazon region and its reddish essential oil is used commercially both by the cosmetic industry, and increasingly as a flavoring for food.[11][12] Interest is increasing in the larger, fast-growing species as crops for paper and biofuel production.

Some species are grown as ornamental or pot plants, notably:

Cyperus alternifolius (umbrella papyrus)
Cyperus albostriatus (dwarf umbrella sedge), formerly called C. diffusus)
Cyperus involucratus (umbrella plant)
Cyperus papyrus (papyrus)[13]

Some Cyperus species are used in folk medicine. Roots of Near East species were a component of kyphi, a medical incense of Ancient Egypt. Tubers of C. rotundus (purple nut-sedge) tubers are used in kampō.

An unspecified Cyperus is mentioned as an abortifacient in the 11th-century poem De viribus herbarum.[14]