Cyperus articulatus

Cyperus articulatus

Scientific Classification:

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Tracheophytes
  • Clade: Angiosperms
  • Clade: Monocots
  • Clade: Commelinids
  • Order: Poales
  • Family: Cyperaceae
  • Genus: Cyperus
  • Species: C. articulatus

Synonyms:

Chlorocyperus articulatus (L.) Rikli, Chlorocyperus cordobensis Palla, Cyperus articulatus Benth., Cyperus articulatus var. articulatus, Cyperus articulatus var. conglomeratus Britton, Cyperus articulatus var. erythrostachys Graebn., Cyperus articulatus var. fistulosus Kük., Cyperus articulatus f. longispiculosus Kük., Cyperus articulatus var. multiflorus Kük., Cyperus articulatus var. nodosus (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kük., Cyperus autumnalis Pursh, Cyperus borbonicus Steud., Cyperus cordobensis (Palla) Hicken, Cyperus corymbosus var. pangorei Rottb., Cyperus corymbosus var. subnodosus (Nees & Meyen) Kük. ex Osten, Cyperus corymbosus var. subnodosus (Nees & Meyen) Kük., Cyperus fistulosus Ehrenb. ex Boeckeler, Cyperus gymnos Schult., Cyperus interceptus Steud., Cyperus niloticus Forssk., Cyperus nodosus Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd., Cyperus nodosus var. aphyllus Boeckeler, Cyperus nodosus var. subnodosus (Nees & Meyen) Boeckeler, Cyperus pertenuis Roxb., Cyperus subarticulatus Nees & Meyen, Cyperus subnodosus Nees & Meyen, Papyrus pangorei Nees

Species ID: NMP-287,wfo-0000367843,NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 1352543

Common Names: Jointed flatsedge, priprioca, Guinea rush or adrue.

Local Names:

Guleme (Susu, Guinea-Bissau), Modjote (Pepel, Guinea-Bissau), Hego, Higo (Mende-Kpa, Sierra Leone), Kyakya, Kyerekyerewa, Pepre (Twi, Ghana), Bum-ane, Mussumarre (Balanta, Guinea-Bissau), Gove (Fula-Pulaar, Sierra Leone), An-kolma (Temne, Sierra Leone), Ze, Zie (Vai, Sierra Leone), A-ngeul, Egare (Basari, Senegal), Yig, Yih (Serer, Senegal), Njoro (Manding-Dyula, Upper Volta), Ge (Gola, Sierra Leone), Kolume, Turunyi (Susu, Guinea), Sang (Tem, Togo), Govhe (Fula-Pulaar, Guinea), Kogo (Kanuri, Nigeria), Ussoe (Bidyogo, Guinea-Bissau), N’tende, Untende (Nalu, Guinea-Bissau), N-popa, Umpopa (Biafada, Guinea-Bissau), Chagu, Ilyogh, Ishoho, I Toho (Tiv, Nigeria), Kokyi (Akan-Fante, Ghana), An-siri (Temne, Sierra Leone), Nasagti-pura (Dagbani, Ghana), Kura-koleme (Susu, Sierra Leone), Ketsi (Gbe-Vhe, Ghana), Ga-nekabirin (Bedik, Senegal), Coutumo (Manding-Mandinka, Guinea-Bissau), Mampufa (Crioulo, Guinea-Bissau), Gowe (Fula-Pulaar, Senegal), Ifeie, Ifin, Ore (Yoruba, Nigeria), Goye Gulbi, Goye Maayo, Woyre (Fula-Fulfulde, Nigeria), Yiw (Mende, Sierra Leone), Efako (Nupe, Nigeria), Maya (Manding-Bambara, Mali), Gowe, Ndegit (Wolof, Senegal), Souchet Articule, Souchet Odorant, Grand Jonc (French, Senegal), Kuntama (Manding-Mandinka, Gambia), Gajiji, Jiji, Kaajiiji, Kaajiijii-Nagulbii, Turaaren Gulbii (Hausa, Nigeria), Semu-na (Susu-Dyalonke, Sierra Leone), Ngoi (Ga, Ghana), Oke Ubiri, Oke Ikute (Igbo, Nigeria), Kutagana (Limba, Sierra Leone), Siko (Kono, Sierra Leone), Oye (Serer-Non, Senegal), So (Bulom, Sierra Leone), Madia, Maya (Manding-Maninka, Guinea).

Basic Description:

Cyperus articulatus is a robust perennial herb that can grow over 2 meters in height. It features fibrous, cylindrical, and hollow stems with transverse septa, giving them a jointed appearance. The plant lacks true leaf blades; instead, it has reduced leaves forming sheaths around the stem base. The inflorescence is a simple anthela with primary branches bearing clusters of spikelets.

Distribution and Habitat:

This species is widespread across tropical and subtropical regions, including Africa, southern Asia, northern Australia, the southeastern United States, the West Indies, and Latin America. It thrives in aquatic environments such as swamps, lake shores, river margins, wet grasslands, and pools, often in standing water up to 30 cm deep, forming large pure patches. In Nigeria, it is commonly found in similar wet habitats.

Medicinal Properties:

Cyperus articulatus has been traditionally used for various medicinal purposes:

  • Antimicrobial Activity: Extracts from the plant have demonstrated antimicrobial properties, making it useful in treating infections.
  • Antioxidant Properties: The plant contains compounds with antioxidant activity, which can help in reducing oxidative stress.
  • Sedative and Antispasmodic Effects: Traditionally, it has been used for its calming effects and to relieve spasms.

Known Toxicity:

While Cyperus articulatus is used medicinally, there is limited information on its toxicity. It is advisable to use the plant under the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals to avoid potential adverse effects.

Additional Information:

Beyond its medicinal applications, Cyperus articulatus is utilized in the fragrance industry, particularly in the Amazon region, where its rhizomes are used to produce an essential oil known as priprioca. This oil is valued for its pleasant aroma and is incorporated into perfumes and cosmetics.

References:

  1. Cyperus articulatus. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved January 19, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperus_articulatus
  2. Cyperus articulatus L. (n.d.). In GBIF. Retrieved January 19, 2025, from https://www.gbif.org/species/2713638
  3. Cyperus articulatus L. (n.d.). In Plants of the World Online. Retrieved January 19, 2025, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:303822-1
  4. Cyperus articulatus. (n.d.). In Flora of Zimbabwe. Retrieved January 19, 2025, from https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=109420

External links

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperus_articulatus
  2. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/161422-Cyperus-articulatus
  3. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cyperus+articulatus
  4. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:303822-1
  5. https://www.gbif.org/species/2713638
  6. https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000367849
  7. https://plants.jstor.org/compilation/Cyperus.articulatus

More pictures
Compounds of Cyperus articulatus
References

Abacha, Y. Z. (2020). Investigation of Nigerian Ethno-medicinal Plants as Potential Sources of Cytotoxic and Anti-plasmodial Compounds. Biological activity of Vitellaria paradoxa, Cyperus articulatus, Securidaca longepedunculata and semi-synthetic halogenated analogues of cryptolepine isolated from Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Doctoral dissertation, University of Bradford).