SafePlants

Fendler's Flatsedge (Cyperus fendlerianus)

Fendler's Flatsedge, scientifically known as Cyperus fendlerianus, is a perennial herb belonging to the Cyperaceae family. It is also commonly referred to as Fendler flat sedge.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is traditionally used for weaving mats and baskets, so ingestion could potentially lead to gastrointestinal upset if a pet consumes a large quantity.
• It's a rhizomatous perennial, so be mindful of the rhizomes if your pet likes to dig.

Considerations for Children

• This plant is traditionally used for weaving mats and baskets, so ingestion could potentially lead to gastrointestinal upset if a child consumes a large quantity.
• It's a rhizomatous perennial, so be mindful of the rhizomes if your child likes to dig.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cyperus fendlerianus Boeckeler
• Family: Cyperaceae
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Taxonomic Rank: Species
• Synonym: Mariscus fendlerianus (Boeckeler) T. Koyama
• Common Name: Fendler's flatsedge

Distribution and Habitat

• Fendler's Flatsedge is found in the Sonoran Desert region of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

Morphological Characteristics

• Cyperus fendlerianus is a perennial herb that grows up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall.
• The seeds ripen from August to September.
• The flowers are hermaphrodite, possessing both male and female reproductive organs.
• Culms (stems) are trigonous (triangular in cross-section), ranging from (7-)20-70(-85) cm in length and (0.5-)1-1.8(-2.6) mm in width.
• Culms are glabrous (smooth) or sparsely to densely scabridulous (slightly rough) on the surfaces.
• It exhibits a graminoid growth habit.

Traditional Uses

• The Apache, Chiricahua, and Mescalero peoples have historically used the plant.
• The flowers were sometimes salted and fed to horses as fodder.
• The tubers were eaten raw or peeled and cooked.
• It is used for weaving mats and baskets.

Quirky Facts

• Some sources indicate its flowers have been salted and given to horses, hinting at potential nutritional or medicinal value recognized in traditional practices.

Additional Information

• Cyperus fendlerianus is a plant of type Graminoid.
• It is a perennial plant.

Further Resources

• Dave's Garden: A community for sharing gardening tips, ideas, seeds, and plants.
• Garden Guides: Provides information on Fendler's Flatsedge and gardening.
• MyTreeDB
• Southwest Biodiversity Information Network (swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/)