Galingale

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Galingale
• Sweet Galingale
• Sweet Cyperus

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eucyperus longus
• Pycreus longus
• Chlorocyperus longus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Poales and the family Cyperaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Cypterus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across various parts of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found across several different nations. Specifically, it inhabits the territories of Belgium, Germany, and Austria. Furthermore, the plant's range extends eastward to include Hungary.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cyperus longus is characterized by its preference for highly specific moisture-rich environments, primarily thriving in canals and wet meadows. This species occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, demonstrating significant adaptability to varying topographic positions. Its distribution spans from low-lying areas starting at an elevation of 15 m AMSL to higher montane regions, reaching a maximum elevation of 2100 m AMSL. Such a wide elevational range suggests that while the plant is strictly dependent on saturated soil conditions or hydromorphic habitats, it can tolerate a diverse array of thermal and atmospheric regimes across its geographic range.

Elevational range max:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

15 m AMSL

Habitat :

canals, meadows: wet

Life history

The life history of Cyperus longus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a stable presence within its ecological niche. As a helophyte, it is adapted to wetland environments, frequently inhabiting marshes or damp areas where it can thrive in saturated soils. Furthermore, its developmental strategy is classified as a cryptophyte, indicating that its perennating buds are protected underground or at the soil surface, ensuring survival during unfavorable environmental conditions or seasonal changes.

Life form :

helophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cyperus longus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, exhibiting a structure that is entirely self-supporting rather than functioning as a climber, liana, or vine. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and thrives in terrestrial environments rather than as an epiphyte or aquatic plant. The plant's stature is variable, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1.7 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.56 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.7 m

Plant height mean:

0.56 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cyperus longus is characterized by a highly specialized leaf morphology and efficient metabolic processes. The plant utilizes a C4 photosynthetic pathway, an adaptation that enhances carbon fixation efficiency under specific environmental conditions. Its foliage is distinctly linear and slender, with leaf widths ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm, and an average width of approximately 0.3 cm. The leaf length is substantial, varying between a minimum of 20 cm and a maximum of 35 cm, contributing to an average leaf size of 12.47 cm². These morphological traits result in a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 219.6 cm²/g, reflecting the plant's strategy for optimizing light interception and resource allocation. Additionally, Cyperus longus does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability to support its physiological requirements.

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf length min:

20 cm

Leaf size mean:

12.47 cm²

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

219.6 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cypterus longus involves both sexual and asexual processes, with sexual reproduction occurring via bisexual flowers arranged in a paniculate inflorescence. This inflorescence can reach a maximum length of 0.35 m. The individual flowers are green, measuring between 0.2 and 0.25 cm in length and 0.1 to 0.18 cm in width. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in September. Pollination is driven by abiotic mechanisms, specifically through the wind, and self-fertilization is notably absent. Following successful pollination, the plant produces black fruits that range from 0.1 to 0.15 cm in length and 0.04 to 0.05 cm in width. Each fruit is highly productive, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. These seeds are extremely small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.000113222333333333 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00012 g to a maximum of 0.00015 g), and they utilize a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on water to spread.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flower length max:

0.25 cm

Flower length min:

0.2 cm

Flower width max:

0.18 cm

Flower width min:

0.1 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit length max:

0.15 cm

Fruit length min:

0.1 cm

Fruit width max:

0.05 cm

Fruit width min:

0.04 cm

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.35 m

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00015 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000113222333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00012 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cyperus longus has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aristolone, Irisone, Longiverbenone, Viridiflorol, humulene oxide.

Aristolone

1. Oncology letters

Irisone

1. Oncology letters

Longiverbenone

1. Oncology letters

Viridiflorol

1. Oncology letters

humulene oxide

1. Oncology letters

Activities

Cyperus longus has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Oncology letters

Conditions

Cyperus longus has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer.

Cancer

1. Oncology letters

Preparations

Cyperus longus has 9 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EO, dichloromethane (CHCl) fraction, essential oil, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction, extract.

Eo

1. Oncology letters

Dichloromethane (chcl) fraction

1. Oncology letters

Essential oil

1. Oncology letters

Ethyl acetate (etoac) fraction

1. Oncology letters

Extract

1. Oncology letters

Fractions

1. Oncology letters

Methanol extract

1. Oncology letters

Water fraction

1. Oncology letters

Whole plants

1. Journal of natural products