Cyperus alternifolius

(Click image to Enlarge)

Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

«
»
  • Botanical Name : Cyperus alternifolius L.
  • Common Name : Umbrella Palm
  • Plant Family : Cyperaceae
  • Plant Form : Sedges
  • Occurrence (Sectors) : 15
  • Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park, Ayurvedic Udyan, Van Chetana Kendra

About Cyperus alternifolius Plant :

  • Habit : A perennial erect herb having adventitious roots.
  • Stem : Basal, underground rhizome bears many tubers, aerial stem is erect, cylindrical, unbranched, solid, green and bear crown of leaves at the top.
  • Leaves : Simple, exstipulate, alternate, sessile, large, linear, entire, acute, leaf bases sheathing, multicostate parallel venation.
  • Inflorescence : Umbellate spike consisting of many spikelets.
  • Flowers :
    • Bracteate, bracts glumaceous and boat shaped, ebracteolate, sessile, incomplete, zygomorphic, hermaphrodite, trimerous, hypogynous, very small.
    • Perianth is absent.
    • Androecium composed of 3 stamens, polyandrous, two lateral and one odd is anterior, filaments long, dithecous, basifixed and introrse.
    • Gynoecium tricarpellary, syncarpous, superior, unilocular, one ovule in the locule, basal placentation, ovary triangular, style single, stigmas 3 and feathery.
  • Fruits : Nut, Seeds endospermic.
  • Flowering and Fruiting Time : Almost throughout the year.
  • Significance : It holds ornamental significance.