Jointed flatsedge, Priprioca, Piripiri
Cyperus articulatus

Family: Cyperaceae

What it is like

Cyperus articulates or commonly known as Piripiri or Jointed Flatsedge is an aromatic species of sedge in Africa, southern Asia, northern Australia, south eastern United States, the West Indies, and Latin America. It is one of the traditional spices of the Amazon region. It produces stout culms about 250 cm tall from a long-creeping, thick rhizome. The rhizome can be eaten raw when peeled. The plant is used in the treatment of nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, intestinal gas, headaches, colds, flu, mouth sores and ulcers, and hypertension. Externally, it is used to treat snake bites and prevent baldness. Piripiri stems are used in making baskets, mats, sacks, and other crafts. Essential oil from the rhizome is used in perfumery while the rhizome can be dried or burnt and used as incense and as a mosquito repellent. The plant can also be grown along the banks of streams to prevent soil erosion. It is native to Africa, temperate and tropical Asia.

Cyperus articulatus is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1.8 m (6ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can grow in water.

Height (m): 1.8

Where it is found

This species is a perennial rhizomatous sedge commonly found growing in ponds, ditches, rivers, marshes, lakes and banks of canals of shallow water. It also occurs in stagnant or weakly running water, sometimes alternatively fresh and salted water. It forms great reed marsh on temporary unflooded soils.

Widespread in warm temperate to tropical areas of the Americas, Africa through Arabia to India.

Conservation Status: Cyperus articulatus (Jointed Flatsedge) Status: Least Concern

Countries/locations it is found in

It is native to Africa, temperate and tropical Asia, Australia, north and south America and naturalized elsewhere. It is present throughout all Africa mainly the Western, South, Eastern and North Eastern regions. Widespread in Egypt where it is found in the Nile delta (Cairo), Nile valley, along the Mediterranean coast and Isthmic desert. Its distribution includes Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea, Senegal; Cape Verde Islands (St. Antonio, St. Nicolao, St. Iago), Gambia, Sierra Leonne (River Bagru), Ghana (Accra, Ashanti), Niger Territory (confluence of the River Quorra and the River Tchadda), Cameroon, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya (east side of the Albert Edward Nyanza, Mombasa). Also in Gabon; Lower Congo; Angola; Congo; Pungo Andongo; banks of the river Cuanza. South central- Congo; Monbuttu; by the river Sankuru: Usambara, Masheua, Kilimandjaro, lake Yipe. Native:Angola (Angola); Argentina; Bangladesh; Benin; Bolivia, Plurinational States of; Botswana; Brazil; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; Colombia; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; C™te d'Ivoire; Ecuador; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea (Equatorial Guinea (mainland)); Eritrea; Ethiopia; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; India; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Israel; Kenya; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; Pakistan; RŽunion; Rwanda; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga); Sudan; Swaziland; Tanzania, United Republic of; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Uganda; United States; Uruguay; Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of; Viet Nam; Western Sahara; Yemen (North Yemen); Zambia

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Used as a flavoring for food.

Medicine

Rating: 4

Piripiri has a long history of use in herbal medicine systems in South America. It is particularly valued for its beneficial effect upon the digestive system and is commonly used to treat nausea, vomiting, stomach-aches, and intestinal gas. The plant is anthelmintic, antibacterial, antiemetic, antifungal, carminative, contraceptive, digestive, febrifuge and sedative. More recently, interest has grown about the plants possible use in treating conditions such as epilepsy and convulsions. Researchers in Africa have published several studies which suggest that the plant can mediate many of the brain chemical reactions which are required in epilepsy and report that the rhizome has anti-epileptic actions. In addition, other laboratory research reports that the plant has anti-convulsant actions, as well as sedative actions. The fresh rhizomes are ground up to extract the juice, which is used as a nerve tonic in cases of stress and nervous and mental disorders (including epilepsy). It is also used to treat and prevent a wide range of digestive and gastrointestinal disorders; to treat fevers and flu; to facilitate child birth or to induce an abortion; as a contraceptive; and for throat cancer. Externally, it is used to heal wounds and treat snake bite, whilst it is also put on the head as a hair tonic and to treat or prevent baldness. A leaf infusion is employed for treating headaches; colds and flu; mouth sores and ulcers; and hypertension. The whole plant is decocted to relieve nausea and vomiting caused from malaria.

Abortifacient: Causes an abortion.

Anthelmintic: Expels parasites from the gut.

Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.

Antibilious: Corrects the secretions of bile.

Antiemetic: Prevents vomiting.

Antifungal: An agent that inhibits or destroys fungi. Used in the treatment of various fungal problems such as candida.

Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.

Contraceptive: Prevents fertilization occurring in females.

Digestive: Aids digestion.

Epilepsy: Used in the treatment of Epilepsy - a disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, causing seizures.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Hypotensive: Reduces blood pressure, it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure

Malaria: Treats malaria - an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites spread to people through the bites of mosquitos.

Sedative: Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Other

Rating: 2

Agroforestry Uses: The plant helps to prevent erosion when it is growing along the banks of streams. Other Uses The tall green stems are fibrous, round, and hollow and can be up to 18mm wide at the base. Piri-piri stems have sometimes been used like reeds in basket-making and other crafts. The stems are used for weaving into mats. The fragrant, sweet-scented, tuberous roots are used for perfuming clothing etc. Cyperus articulatus is largely pastured by cattle when nothing else is available.

Basketry: Plant used in making baskets and other items such as chairs. Includes plants that are only used as an ornamental addition.

Cosmetic: Used to improve the physical appearence of a person.

Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

Fodder: Food given to the animals (including plants cut and carried to them) rather than forage for themselves.

Hair: Plants used as hair shampoos, tonics, to treat balding etc.

Soil stabilization: Plants that can be grown in places such as sand dunes in order to prevent erosion by wind, water or other agents.

Weaving: Items such as grass and palm leaves that are woven together for making mats, baskets etc. See also Basket making and Fibre.

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Grows naturally from the warm temperate zone through to the tropics. Probably requires a moist to wet soil. A tropical plant. It grows in shallow water. It grows in damp soils along river banks. It is damaged by frost or drought. Freshwater but it can grow in slightly salty soils. It grows between 2-1,700 m above sea level. It grows in wet grass savannah. It can grow in arid places.

Propagating it: Seed - Division.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist, wet, water

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Cyperus articulates or commonly known as Piripiri or Jointed Flatsedge. Also known as: Guinea rush, Jointed flatsedge, Priprioca, Piripiri, Aldrue, Bum-ane, Culeme, Entede, Kauju, Kolime, M'pofa, Mampufam Contumo, Mdulu, Mlulu, Modjote, Mussumarre, N'Buam, N'popa, N'ted, N'ten-tede, N'tende, Ndrauru, Tindzau, Umbuan, Umpopa, Untende, Ussoe.

Synonyms

Cyperus corymbosus Rottb.