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Accession Data:

Cyperus alternifolius L.

  • Common Name: Umbrella Plant
  • Family: Cyperaceae Juss.

  • Country of Origin: Trop. & S. Africa, W. Indian Ocean, Arabian Pen.

  • Uses: Medicinal: Studies have shown clear antifungal and antibacterial properties in the roots of this plant.

    From Philippine Alternative Medicine

    • IMPORTANT NOTE: Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.
  • USDA Zone: 8a-11

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 198500152
  • Source: Unknown
  • Accession Date: 12-31-1985
  • Bench: 1117 - AFR:South Tanks E
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 3 confirmed on 02-26-2025
  • Restrictions:

    Classification:

    • Division: Magnoliophyta
    • Class: Liliopsida
    • SubClass: commelinids
    • Order: Poales
    • SubOrder:
    • Family: Cyperaceae
    • SubFamily: Cyperoideae
    • Tribe: Cypereae
    • SubTribe:

    Flowering Data:

    This accession has been observed in bloom on:
    YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
    2025
    2024
    2023
    2022
    2021
    2020
    2019
    2018
    2017
    2016
    2015
    2014
    2013
    2012
    2011
    2010
    2009
    2008
    2007
    2006

    References (internal):

    • Medicinal Plants
    • Aquatic Plants
    • Wind Pollination (anemophily)
    • Pollination Syndrome Scavenger Hunt
    • Benthophyte
    • EEB 3271 - Systematic Botany
    • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Benin / Ghana / Guinea / Liberia / Mauritania / Nigeria / Senegal / Sierra Leone / Burundi / Cameroon / Congo / Rwanda / Zaire / Chad / Djibouti / Eritrea / Ethiopia / Somalia / Sudan / Kenya / Tanzania / Uganda / Angola / Malawi / Mozambique / Zambia / Zimbabwe / KwaZulu-Natal / Mauritius / Madagascar / Reunion / Saudi Arabia / Yemen /

    References (external):

    1. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 19 May 2015.
    2. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 19 May 2015

    data regenerated on Wed, 26 Feb 2025 11:42:02 -0500 [bcm v4.0]

    Images:

    Cyperus alternifolius

    Additional images for this accession:

    Click on thumbnails to enlarge

    Current Accessions in the Cyperaceae

    Subfamily Cyperoideae
    Tribe Cariceae

    • Carex pendula
    • Carex sylvatica

    Subfamily Cyperoideae
    Tribe Cypereae

    • Cyperus alternifolius
    • Cyperus brevifolia
    • Cyperus diffusus
    • Cyperus papyrus

    Subfamily Cyperoideae
    Tribe Eleocharideae

    • Eleocharis dulcis
    • Eleocharis sphacelata
    W/C = Wild Collected
    = indicates flowering in past 14 days
    = images available for this accession
    = map available for this accession
    = accession added within past 90 days
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