Cyperus pygmaeus
Content
Description
Annual.
Leaves canaliculate, gradually acuminate, scabrid on the margins in the upper part, 1-2 mm wide;
Inflorescence consisting of several very dense glomerules, contracted into a triangular-ovoid to subglobose, lobed head up to 1½ cm long and wide.
Stamens 1-2;
Distribution
Asia Minor present, Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present; Philippines (Philippines present), Australasia, Central Celebes present, E. Africa present, Luzon present, Mediterranean region present, Mindanao present, S. and E. Asia present, W. and E. Java present
Mediterranean region, E. Africa, from Asia Minor through S. and E. Asia to Australia; in Malesia very rare: in a few localities in W. and E. Java, the Philippines (Luzon, Mindanao), Central Celebes, and New Guinea.
Notes
As a rule C. pygmaeus is digynous, but there are often some to several trigynous flowers among the digynous ones. Whether the nut is plano-convex or trigonous does not entirely correlate with the number of stigmas: there are often 2 stigmas to the trigonous nuts.
The relations between this species and Scirpus michelianus L. (the latter not known from Malesia) constitute an interesting systematic problem. The two sometimes grow together and resemble each other deceivingly. They differ mainly by the phyllotaxy of the spikelets (glumes distichous in C. pygmaeus, spiral in Scirpus michelianus). BOECKELER considered them conspecific; he was followed by several authors (e.g. KÜKENTHAL). KUNTH and CLARKE treated them as belonging in different genera. If Scirpus michelianus is not included in Cyperus, the sectional name Dichostylis, of which it is the type species, cannot be used in this genus.
The relations between this species and Scirpus michelianus L. (the latter not known from Malesia) constitute an interesting systematic problem. The two sometimes grow together and resemble each other deceivingly. They differ mainly by the phyllotaxy of the spikelets (glumes distichous in C. pygmaeus, spiral in Scirpus michelianus). BOECKELER considered them conspecific; he was followed by several authors (e.g. KÜKENTHAL). KUNTH and CLARKE treated them as belonging in different genera. If Scirpus michelianus is not included in Cyperus, the sectional name Dichostylis, of which it is the type species, cannot be used in this genus.
Citation
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 114
Miq. 1856 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 261
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 357
KÜK. 1936: p. 312. – In: Pfl. R.: f. 3 F-G.
BOECK. 1868 – In: Linnaea: 493
Clarke 1907 – In: Philip. J. Sc.: Bot. 81
BACK. 1949 – In: Bekn. Fl. Java, (em. ed.): fam. 246, p. 41
Benth. 1878 – In: Fl. Austr.: 262
NAVES 1882: NOV. App.: 301
S. T. BLAKE 1947 – In: J. Arn. Arb.: 219
KERN 1968 – In: Back. & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 3: 472
KUNTH 1837 – In: En.: 18
VALCK. SUR. 1898: Gesl. Cyp. Mal. Arch: 74: t. 2 f. 22
PALLA 1905 – In: Koch, Syn., ed. 3, 3: 2557
BACK. 1928: Onkr. Suiker: 130: t. 123
CAMUS 1912 – In: Fl. Gén. I.-C.: 38
Clarke 1884: 28, 81. – In: J. Linn. Soc. Bot.: t. 2 f. 10