Cyperus hyalinus
Content
Description
Annual with fibrous roots.
Leaves weak, flat, gradually acuminate, scabrid on the margins towards the top, 1-3½ mm wide.
Inflorescence simple, anthelate but often contracted and head-like.
Stamens 2;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: India present; Maluku (Maluku present), Australasia: Queensland (Queensland present), Ceram present, Farther India present, Kangean Archipelago present, Key Is present, Lesser Sunda Is present, Madura present, Mascarene Is present, Tanimbar Is present, Timor present, coral islands in the Bay of Djakarta present, islands near Java present, tropical Australia present, tropical E. Africa present
Tropical E. Africa, Mascarene Is., India, Farther India, tropical Australia (Queensland); in Malesia: islands near Java (coral islands in the Bay of Djakarta, Madura, Kangean Archipelago), Lesser Sunda Is. (Timor, Tanimbar Is.), Moluccas (Ceram, Key Is.).
Notes
On account of its bifid style and laterally compressed, biconvex nut, several authors placed this species in subg. Pycreus. It is the type-species of the monotypic genus Queenslandiella DOMIN (= Mariscopsis CHERM.), which is characterized by the disarticulation of the rachilla, the bifid style, and the biconvex, laterally compressed nut. However, all these characters are also found in Cyperus subg. Kyllinga, and so Queenslandiella differs from most Kyllingae only in the umbelliform inflorescence (not from all species of this subgenus, see e.g. C. transitorius KÜK. with anthelate inflorescence). Shape and texture of the glumes also point to its close relationship with the species of subg. Kyllinga. KÜKENTHAL referred C. hyalinus to subg. Mariscus in spite of the digynous flowers. It is certainly not closely related to any of the trigynous Mariscus species.
Since C. hyalinus was collected in Timor already by R. BROWN in 1803, it is unlikely that it was introduced there, as BALLARD supposes for Queensland. C. squarrosus L. and C. teneriffae POIR., which accompany C. hyalinus both in Timor and Queensland, show almost the same distribution.
The strong odour of dried specimens resembles that of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.).
Since C. hyalinus was collected in Timor already by R. BROWN in 1803, it is unlikely that it was introduced there, as BALLARD supposes for Queensland. C. squarrosus L. and C. teneriffae POIR., which accompany C. hyalinus both in Timor and Queensland, show almost the same distribution.
The strong odour of dried specimens resembles that of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.).
Citation
KERN 1968 – In: Back. & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 3: 470
VALCK. SUR. 1898: Gesl. Cyp. Mal. Arch: 57: t. 2 f. 11
CAMUS 1912 – In: Fl. Gèn. I.-C.: 32
Koord. 1911 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 185
BOECK. 1868 – In: Linnaea: 482
VAHL 1922 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: f. 195
Ridl. 1885 – In: Forbes, Wand.: 520
BACK. 1949 – In: Bekn. Fl. Java, (em. ed.): fam. 246, p. 43
Clarke 1884 – In: J. Linn. Soc. Bot.: 46
KÜK. 1936 – In: Pfl. R.: 498
Miq. 1856 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 254