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smooth flatsedge
Scientific Name: Cyperus laevigatus
Family: Cyperaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Graminoid
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Smooth Flatsedge (Cyperus laevigatus)
Cyperus laevigatus, commonly known as smooth flatsedge, is a species of sedge with a wide distribution.
Considerations for Pets
- This plant has stems that can be up to 2-3' tall.
Considerations for Children
- This plant has stems that can be up to 2-3' tall.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cyperus laevigatus L.
- Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge)
- Common Names: Smooth flatsedge, flat sedge, smooth cyperus, makaloa (in Hawaii), smooth nutgrass.
- Synonyms:
- Cyperus careyi Britt.
- Cyperus kunthianus H.Mann
- Cyperus neokunthianus Kkenth.
- Mariscus kunthianus
Distribution and Habitat
- Smooth flatsedge is found in moist habitats.
- Specific locations mentioned include:
- Southern Qatar (Al Mashabiya Reserve near Abu Samra)
- Hawaii (Kanaha Beach, Maui)
- Florida
- New England states (moist to wet shores on sandy soil)
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- It is described as a wild, short-lived (less than five years) marshy sedge.
- Stems are smooth, erect, typically bunched, and three-sided, ranging from 1 inch to 3 feet tall.
- The stems are triangular in cross-section, dark-brown to almost black with an almost smooth surface.
- One of the species best adapted to the dune dynamics, it grows in the depressions between the lines of dunes.
Quirky Facts
- In Hawaii, the stalks are crushed into fine particles and used as a snuff for hard head colds.