juncia de chufa

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• perennial yellow flatsedge
• yellow nutgrass
• yellow nutsedge
• Earth Almond
• Earth Nut
• Tiger Nut
• earth-almond
• water-grass
• yellow nut-grass
• Edible Galingale
• Yellow nutsedge or tiger nut

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pterocyperus esculentus
• Cyperus aureus subsp. esculentus
• Cyperus fulvescens
• Cyperus esculentus var. phymatodes
• Cyperus esculentus var. heermannii
• Cyperus phymatodes var. heermannii
• Cyperus esculentus f. evolutus
• Cyperus esculentus var. nervosostriatus
• Cyperus damiettensis
• Pycreus esculentus
• Chlorocyperus phymatodes
• Cyperus variabilis
• Cyperus bahiensis
• Cyperus esculentus proles aureus
• Chlorocyperus aureus
• Cyperus esculentus proles sativus
• Cyperus esculentus f. angustispicatus
• Cyperus tenoreanus
• Cyperus esculentus var. helodes
• Cyperus tenorei
• Cyperus buchananii
• Cyperus esculentus var. lutescens
• Cyperus ruficomus
• Cyperus esculentus f. macrostachyus
• Cyperus repens
• Cyperus esculentus f. princeps
• Cyperus officinalis
• Cyperus nervosostriatus
• Cyperus nervosus
• Cyperus phymatodes
• Cyperus chrysostachys
• Cyperus bulamensis
• Cyperus melanorhizus
• Cyperus heermannii
• Cyperus helodes
• Cyperus gracilescens
• Cyperus esculentus var. angustispicatus
• Cyperus esculentus subsp. aureus
• Cyperus esculentus var. cyclolepis
• Cyperus esculentus var. leptostachyus
• Cyperus esculentus var. macrostachyus
• Cyperus esculentus var. sativus
• Cyperus esculentus var. sprucei

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and order Poales, it is further categorized into the family Cyperaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Cypterus and the specific species esculentus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions within Middle Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Austria. Additionally, its presence extends to the territories of Belgium. The species is also documented throughout Germany and Hungary. Finally, its geographical range includes parts of Poland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cyperus esculentus is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2100 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 1125 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to disturbed environments, frequently colonizing anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) where human activity has modified the natural landscape. Its presence in these human-influenced habitats suggests a resilient ecological strategy that allows it to persist in varied terrains and disturbed soil profiles within its wide elevational distribution.

Elevational range max:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1125 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Cyperus esculentus are characterized by significant chromosomal variability and complex polyploid configurations, which contribute to its adaptability across diverse environments. A defining feature of its karyotype is the highly irregular and varied chromosome number observed across different accessions and populations, with recorded values including 96, 108, and 208. This high degree of aneuploidy or polyploidy suggests a complex evolutionary history involving genome duplication events, which may play a critical role in the plant's robust physiological resilience and its ability to thrive in various soil conditions. Such genomic plasticity is a hallmark of the species, providing a broad genetic base that supports its widespread distribution and persistence in both cultivated and wild habitats.

Chromosome number :

96, 108, 208

Life history

The life history of Cyperus esculentus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a geophyte, it survives unfavorable environmental conditions by storing energy and regenerative structures underground, primarily in the form of nutrient-rich tubers. This survival strategy is further supported by its classification as a cryptophyte, meaning its vital growing points are protected beneath the soil surface, ensuring long-term resilience and the ability to re-emerge annually.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cyperus esculentus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. This plant is a self-supporting, independent organism that lacks any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, functioning strictly as a terrestrial species rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. Its shoots exhibit an erect orientation, rising from the ground to reach varying heights; specifically, the plant height ranges from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 1 m, with an average height of approximately 0.555 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.555 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cyperus esculentus is characterized by a highly efficient C4 photosynthetic pathway, which optimizes carbon fixation and water-use efficiency in varying environmental conditions. The plant is non-carnivorous and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability. Its foliage exhibits significant morphological variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, and leaf widths spanning from 0.1 cm to a maximum of 1 cm, with a mean width of 0.6 cm. Furthermore, the plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 272.9 cm²/g, reflecting its structural leaf investment and resource acquisition strategy.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

0.1 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

272.9 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cyperus esculentus involves both sexual and asexual mechanisms, with asexual reproduction being notably present. Sexually, the plant features bisexual flowers that are brown in color, measuring between 0.22 cm and 0.39 cm in length and 0.1 cm to 0.2 cm in width. The flowering period typically commences in July and extends through October. Pollination is an abiotic process, primarily driven by the wind. Following successful pollination, the plant produces indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are relatively small, with dimensions ranging from 0.12 cm to 0.18 cm in length and 0.06 cm to 0.12 cm in width. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The individual seeds are minute, with a mean mass of 0.00015 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00013 g to a maximum of 0.00019 g). Self-fertilization is absent in this species. Dispersal is characterized by an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous tendencies, meaning it can be spread by human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

brown

Flower length max:

0.39 cm

Flower length min:

0.22 cm

Flower width max:

0.2 cm

Flower width min:

0.1 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit length max:

0.18 cm

Fruit length min:

0.12 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.12 cm

Fruit width min:

0.06 cm

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00019 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00015 g

Seed mass min:

0.00013 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cyperus esculentus has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include oleic acid, 1,2,3-benzenetriol, 3-Deoxy-d-mannoic lactone, 5-HYDROXYMETHYLFURFURAL, FAT.

oleic acid

1. Heliyon
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

1,2,3-benzenetriol

1. Heliyon

3-Deoxy-d-mannoic lactone

1. Heliyon

5-HYDROXYMETHYLFURFURAL

1. Heliyon

FAT

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

STARCH

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Steroids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannin

1. Tropical and geographical medicine

Terpenoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

linoleic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Cyperus esculentus has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Heliyon

Antioxidant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Cyperus esculentus has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include anti-cholinesterase, anti-oxidant, infections, oxidative stress.

Anti-cholinesterase

1. Heliyon

Anti-oxidant

1. Heliyon

Infections

1. Heliyon

Oxidative stress

1. Journal of the American College of Nutrition

Preparations

Cyperus esculentus has 7 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extracts, butanol, butanol and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts, butanol extracts, dichloromethane.

Aqueous extracts

1. Heliyon

Butanol

1. Heliyon

Butanol and dichloromethane (dcm) extracts

1. Heliyon

Butanol extracts

1. Heliyon

Dichloromethane

1. Heliyon

Dichloromethane extracted

1. Heliyon

Dichloromethane extracts

1. Heliyon