SafePlants

Cyperus cyperoides: Pacific Island Flatsedge

Cyperus cyperoides, commonly known as Pacific Island Flatsedge, is a plant belonging to the Cyperaceae family. It is also referred to as Pacific island flat sedge.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cyperus cyperoides (L.) Kuntze
• Family: Cyperaceae
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Taxonomic Rank: Species
• Synonyms: Mariscus sumatrensis, Mariscus sieberanus
• Subspecies: Cyperus cyperoides (L.) Kuntze subsp. cyperoides

Distribution and Habitat

• The Pacific Island Flatsedge is found in North America, Southeast Asia, some Pacific Islands, Australia, New Guinea, Madagascar, and Central Africa.
• It is also distributed in Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa), Korea, PR (Puerto Rico), the Virgin Islands, and eastern Canada.
• This plant is commonly found in wet patches, woodland, forest cover, and open grassy slopes.

Ecological Role

• In Hawaii and other Pacific islands, a risk assessment system has been used to screen out harmful invasive pest plants, which suggests potential ecological concerns related to its spread.

Common Names

• Besides Pacific Island Flatsedge, other common names for Cyperus species include papyrus sedges, flatsedges, nutsedges, umbrella-sedges, and galingales.
• Other names associated with the plant: shingle flatsedge, rice flat sedge, African sedge, dwarf papyrus, flat sedge, Umbrella plant, and liten parasollsv (Swedish).

Interactions with Other Organisms

• It has companion plants.
• Grows in floating islands of *Pistia, Salvinia*.

Further Information

• Discover Life provides information about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Cyperus cyperoides.
• JSTOR Plant Science also contains relevant information.
• Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) provides additional details.