Cyperus iria L.

Family

Cyperaceae

Synonyms

None

Vernacular Names

Geographical Distributions

Cyyperus iria is distributed from Iran, Afghanistan, China and Japan to Australia. C. iria also an important and widespread weed in eastern Africa; as well as a common weed throughout Indo-China, Thailand and Malesia. It also have been introduced and naturalised in the south-eastern United States and the West Indies.

Description

C. iria is a tufted annual or sometimes perennial herb. C .iria are with fibrous also with yellowish-red in colour of roots while its stem is  with a size measuring about (5-)15-50(-80) cm long.

The leaves are measuring about 3-6(-8) mm wide, flat or channeled and scabrid on the margins in the upper part.

The inflorescence is simple or compound, and  up to measure about 40 cm long and with 3-5(-7) involucral bracts. The primary rays are 3-5(-8), very unequal, and with a size up to measure about 10(-18) cm long, spicately arranged spikelets and with 6-20(-24)-flowered. There are 2-3 stamens and 3 stigmas.

The fruit is triquetrous, obovoid or ellipsoid in shape and it is dark brown to black shining in colour.

Ecology / Cultivation

C. iria occurs up to 700(-1200) m altitude in open wet locations and is a characteristic and common weed in lowland rice fields, but it may also occur as a weed in vegetables, maize, sugar cane, groundnut and soya bean. C. iria also occurs on along a roadsides and a river banks. It is able flowers throughout the year.

Line Drawing / Photograph

References

1. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 12 (1): Medicinal and poisonous plants 1.