Slender Cyperus, Piedmont flatsedge
Cyperus distans
Family: Cyperaceae
What it is like
Cyperus distans is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). It is in flower from August to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 0.5
Where it is found
Marshes at sea level.
South-eastern N. America through Mexico to South America.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Tuber - raw or cooked. Eaten in sauces.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Medicine
Rating: 1
The juice of the root is used in the treatment of fevers.
Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.
Other
Rating:
The leaves are used for weaving hats, matting etc.
Weaving: Items such as grass and palm leaves that are woven together for making mats, baskets etc. See also Basket making and Fibre.
How it is grown
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it is unlikely to succeed outdoors in any but the very mildest areas of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a moist sandy loam.
Propagating it: Seed - surface sow in the spring and keep the compost moist. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 18°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow on for their first winter in a greenhouse and plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn. This is more a matter of harvesting the tubers and replanting them. If this is done in the autumn, then it is best to store the tubers in a cool frost-free place overwinter and plant them out in the spring.
Best place to grow: Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist, wet