Cyperus crassipes Vahl

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Robust tussocky perennial with a thick branched rhizome and long stolons

Morphology Stem

Stems 1–35 cm long and 2–5 mm thick, triangular to almost rounded

Morphology Leaves

Leaves many, 10–40 cm long and 3–8 mm wide, flat or folded, rather stiff, scabrid on margin; sheaths green to light reddish brown

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Anthela 4–8 cm in diam., consisting of numerous almost sessile digitate spikelet-clusters, or sometimes the spikelet-clusters on 0.5–2.5 cm long peduncles; each spikelet-cluster with 6–15 spikelets Inflorescence a large globose head or sometimes a more open anthela surrounded by 4–8 long leafy bracts; major involucral bract 10–25 cm long and 4–6 mm wide, strongly scabrid on margin, spreading or reflexed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 14–20 x 3–5 mm, linear-lanceolate, pale brown to almost whitish, 10–20-flowered, only slightly compressed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 6–8 mm long, broadly ovate, concave, light reddish brown with paler margin and numerous narrow nerves; midrib thickened above and slightly excurrent or ending in apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style with 3 long branches

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet 2–2.3 x 1–1.2 mm, obovate, dark brown, minutely papillose.

Distribution

C1; S2, 3 along most tropical African coasts.

Ecology

Sea-level to 280 m.

Vernacular

Daleen (Somali).

Cyperaceae, K Hoenselaar, B. Verdcourt & H. Beentje. Hypolytrum, D Simpson. Fuirena, M Muasya. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2010

Type

Type: Guinea, Isert s.n. (C, holo.)

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, robust and tussocky, up to 70 cm tall, with a thick branched rhizome 3–5 mm in diameter and long stolons.

Morphology Culms

Culms few, 15–62 cm long, 1.6–4.3 mm wide, trigonous to almost terete, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves up to 85 cm long. Leaf blade linear, flat or folded, rather thick, 25–80 cm long, 3–13 mm wide, apex acute to acuminate, scabrid on margin Leaf sheath green to reddish-brown, at the base almost black, 4.5–10 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts leaf-like, spreading to reflexed, (2–)4–8, lowermost 15–38 cm long, 4–8 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence almost capitate to a simple anthela, primary branches 0–8, 0–7 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets in digitate clusters, sessile and at the end of primary branches, 8 to many per cluster, linear-lanceolate, 9–27 mm long, 2.4–5.2 mm wide, slightly compressed to almost terete, rachilla straight to sometimes slightly curved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes pale reddish-brown to pale brown, concave, elliptic-ovate, 5.1–8.1 mm long, 1.8–4.8 mm wide, keel slightly excurrent, sometimes slightly green, many veins on both sides, apex very shortly mucronate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 2.5–5(–8) mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 1.9–3.7 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet dark brown, obovoid, flattened on one side, this side pressed against the rachilla, 1.9–3 mm long, 1–1.4 mm wide, smooth or minutely papillose.

Ecology

On sea shores, in sand dunes; sea-level–60 m

Conservation

Least Concern (LC)

Distribution

Flora districts: K7 T3 T6 T8 Range: Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Equitorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo-Kinshasa, Somalia, Angola, Mozambique

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Robust perennial with a thick horizontal, often curving rhizome 3–5 mm thick with stems set at intervals of c. 0.5–2 cm

Morphology Stem

Stems 20–80 cm long and 1–4 mm thick, triangular, smooth or slightly scabrid on angles, with numerous (10–15) crowded leaves at their base

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades 15–60 cm long and 2–6 mm wide, flat or folded with a very prominent keeled midrib on lower surface

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a congested or lax anthela of numerous crowded whitish to reddish brown spikelets or of 1 sessile group of spikelets and 1–several stalked groups of spikelets

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 8–40 x 3–5 mm, lanceolate, flattened, 8–25-flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 4.5–6 mm long, ovate, whitish to light or medium reddish brown with prominent lateral nerves and a green midrib excurrent into a short awn

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 3-branched

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet 1.7–1.9 x 1.2–1.3 mm wide, black, elliptic, prominently triangular with flat sides and a short apiculus; surface smooth and shiny.

Distribution

S3; Kenya

Ecology

Sea-level to 50 m.