Cyperus diffusus (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Cyperus diffusus Vahl

Protologue: Enum. pl. 2: 321 (1805).

Family: Cyperaceae

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: ilat (West Java), cekeng (Javanese), pukul sedapan (Riau)
• Malaysia: para-para, rumput bemban, rumput bumbat, rumput chukor karbau (Peninsular)
• Philippines: gumu-gumi, tuhog-dalag (Tagalog), barsangabakin, barsanga-bakir (Ilocano), baliw-baliw (Bicol), singao (Mindanao)
• Thailand: yaa teen kaa (Nakhon Ratchasima)
• Laos: f'uuk, haang kaa, phüü dông
• Vietnam: lác lan, cói xòe, cỏ gấu nước.

Distribution

From India, southern China, Taiwan and Indo-China to the Solomon Islands; throughout Malesia except the Lesser Sunda Islands.

Uses

In Indonesia young plants are eaten raw as vegetable. It has been reported that in the Philippines (Mindanao) the roots are used to treat diseased lips. In Thailand, the roots are used as an antipyretic, analgesic, cardiotonic, diuretic and against coughing.

Observations

• A perennial herb with a very short rhizome, stem 15-80 cm long, trigonous, often tufted.
• Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, 15-85 cm × 0.5-2 cm with 3 prominent main nerves, channelled at the base, scabrid on the margins, grass-green above, pale green below.
• Inflorescence decompound, diffuse and lax, involucral bracts 4-10, up to 50 cm long, primary rays up to 20, unequal, up to 20 cm long, spikelets digitately arranged, (4-)6-12(-20)-flowered; stamens 3, stigmas 3.
• Fruit triquetrous, ellipsoid or subpyramidal, dark brown to dusky black.

C. diffusus occurs up to 700 m altitude in thickets and moist forests on river banks, and on shady roadsides.

Selected sources

7, 66, 91. vegetables

• Kern, J.H., 1974. Cyperaceae. In: van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (General editor): Flora Malesiana. Series 1, Vol. 7. Noordhoff, Leyden, the Netherlands. pp. 435-753.

Main genus page

• Cyperus (Medicinal plants)

Authors

• Nguyen Khac Khoi