Nut-grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Purple Nutsedge
• Nutgrass
• Nutsedge
• Purple Nutsegde
• Common Nut Sedge
• Nut-grass
• Java-grass
• coco-grass
• ground-almond
• purple nut-grass
• red nut sedge

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cyperus badius var. inconspicuus
• Cyperus oliganthus
• Cyperus rotundus var. nubicus
• Cyperus rotundus var. hydra
• Cyperus rotundus var. quimoyensis
• Cyperus pseudovariegatus
• Cyperus herbicavus
• Cyperus merkeri
• Cyperus micreilema
• Schoenus tuberosus
• Cyperus rudioi var. minor
• Pycreus rotundus
• Cyperus rotundus subsp. inconspicuus
• Cyperus rotundus var. carinalis
• Cyperus rotundus subsp. comosus
• Cyperus laevissimus
• Cyperus rotundus var. pseudesculentus
• Cyperus leptostachyus
• Cyperus rotundus f. comosus
• Cyperus rotundus var. inconspicuus
• Cyperus hildra
• Chlorocyperus rotundus
• Cyperus hexastachyos
• Cyperus agrestis
• Cyperus bulbosostolonifer
• Cyperus nubicus
• Cyperus olivaris
• Cyperus olivaris var. brevibracteatus
• Cyperus ochreoides
• Cyperus purpureovariegatus
• Cyperus procerulus
• Cyperus platystachys
• Cyperus rotundus var. platystachys
• Cyperus rotundus var. procerula
• Cyperus rotundus subsp. divaricatus
• Cyperus rotundus var. elongatus
• Cyperus rotundus f. inconspicuus
• Cyperus rotundus f. latifolius
• Cyperus rotundus f. latimarginatus
• Cyperus rotundus var. macrostachyus
• Cyperus rotundus var. major
• Cyperus rotundus subsp. merkeri
• Cyperus rotundus var. acutus
• Cyperus rotundus var. amaliae
• Cyperus rotundus subsp. brevibracteatus
• Cyperus rotundus var. centiflorus
• Cyperus rotundus var. comosus
• Cyperus rotundus f. contractus
• Cyperus rotundus f. depallescens
• Cyperus radicosus
• Cyperus rotundus var. taylorii
• Cyperus rotundus var. salsolus
• Cyperus rotundus var. spadiceus
• Cyperus tetrastachyos
• Cyperus taylorii
• Cyperus stoloniferus var. pallidus
• Cyperus yoshinagae
• Cyperus rotundus var. tetrastachyos
• Cyperus rotundus var. brevibracteatus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, it is a member of the family Cyperaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Cyperus, where it is known as Cyperus rotundus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse presence across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its range extends to include Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Austria. The species is also widely distributed through Czechia-Slovakia and Germany. Finally, its geographical footprint reaches as far as Switzerland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cyperus rotundus is characterized by a broad adaptability to diverse environments, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 2300 m AMSL. This species exhibits a highly versatile habitat preference, frequently colonizing anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), riparian forests or gallery forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), and aquatic vegetation (Vegetação Aquática). Its ability to thrive in both disturbed human-modified landscapes and specialized wetland or forest-edge ecosystems highlights its resilient ecological niche.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Vegetação Aquática

Genetics

The genetics of Cyperus rotundus are characterized by significant chromosomal variation and complex polyploid tendencies. The species exhibits a wide range of chromosome numbers, with documented values including 16, 26, 84, 96, 100, 108, 128, and 152, reflecting a highly diverse karyotype that suggests extensive evolutionary adaptation. Despite this broad spectrum of numerical variation, the plant is fundamentally identified with a diploid ploidy level of 2, indicating that while the total number of chromosomes can fluctuate drastically, the basic cellular framework often adheres to a diploid state.

Chromosome number :

16, 26, 84, 96, 100, 108, 128, 152

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Cyperus rotundus is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a cryptophyte, specifically categorized as a geophyte, which indicates that its vital organs are protected underground, typically within specialized tubers or rhizomes that ensure survival during unfavorable environmental conditions. This plant maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage throughout much of its life cycle rather than shedding it seasonally. Through this combination of a perennial lifecycle and a geophytic life form, the species is able to effectively colonize and dominate various habitats via its robust underground storage systems.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cyperus rotundus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. It functions as a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing or parasitic tendencies, maintaining an independent life cycle. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. The plant features an erect shoot orientation, with its stature typically ranging from a minimum of 0 m to a maximum height of 1 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.373 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.373333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cyperus rotundus is characterized by a highly efficient metabolic and morphological structure adapted for varied environmental conditions. It utilizes a C4 photosynthetic pathway, which allows for enhanced carbon fixation and greater water-use efficiency compared to C3 plants, particularly in warmer climates. Morphologically, the leaves are slender and linear, exhibiting a significant range in length from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 30 cm. The leaf width is relatively narrow, with a mean width of 0.3 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm. The plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf tissue density rather than storing water in fleshy structures. Additionally, Cyperus rotundus is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing mechanisms.

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length min:

0.1 cm

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cypterus rotundus involves both sexual and asexual processes, with asexual reproduction being present to facilitate spread. The sexual phase is characterized by bisexual flowers that are brown in color and organized in a paniculate inflorescence, which can reach a maximum length of 0.12 m. These flowers are relatively small, measuring between 0.26 cm and 0.43 cm in length and 0.07 cm to 0.3 cm in width. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes in September, though it can be variable. Pollination is primarily an abiotic process driven by the wind. Following successful pollination, the plant produces black, indehiscent fruits categorized as achenes. These fruits are small, with a length ranging from 0.12 cm to 0.15 cm and a width between 0.04 cm and 0.07 cm. Each fruit is prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are minute, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00022635725 g, ranging from a minimum of 4.1e-05 g to a maximum of 0.000367 g. Self-fertilization is noted as absent in this species. Dispersal is achieved through a combination of hydrochorous (water) and anthropochorous (human) syndromes, allowing the seeds to spread through aquatic environments and human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

brown

Flower length max:

0.43 cm

Flower length min:

0.26 cm

Flower width max:

0.3 cm

Flower width min:

0.07 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit length max:

0.15 cm

Fruit length min:

0.12 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.07 cm

Fruit width min:

0.04 cm

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.12 m

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.000367 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00022635725 g

Seed mass min:

4.1e-05 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cyperus rotundus has 4 reported plant parts identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, root, leaf, stem.

Rhizome

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Cellular and molecular neurobiology
5. Neurotoxicology

Root

1. Ancient science of life
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Leaf

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Chemicals

Cyperus rotundus has 88 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, alpha-Cyperone, BETA-SELINENE, Cyperene, Cyperotundone.

Flavonoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Cellular and molecular neurobiology
4. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

alpha-Cyperone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

BETA-SELINENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Cyperene

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Cyperotundone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Magnetic resonance in chemistry : MRC

NOOTKATONE

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy magazine

Patchoulenone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

STIGMASTEROL

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Valencene

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Activities

Cyperus rotundus has 364 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antimalarial, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Cellular and molecular neurobiology

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Ancient science of life

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Neuroprotective

1. Cellular and molecular neurobiology
2. Neurotoxicology

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Cyperus rotundus has 50 reported medicinal uses identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include obesity, oxidative stress, Plasmodium falciparum, aging, depression.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations