Practical
Plants

Cyperus tegetiformis

a perennial member of the Cyperus genus in the family Cyperaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Cyperus
Life cycle
perennial
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A fibre is obtained from the stalks or the leaves, it is used for mats etc[5][6][3]. The whole leaves can also be used for weaving mats and other items[4].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Weaving

Environment

Range
E. Asia.
Habitat
Margins of swamps and in salt marshes.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - surface sow in the spring and keep the compost moist[2]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 18°c[2]. 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. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring. If dividing in the autumn, it is probably better to overwinter the divisions in pots in a greenhouse.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. It is cultivated, especially in China, for the fibre in its leaves. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a moist sandy loam in a sunny position[7][1].

References

  1. Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. 1984-00-00 ISBN 0802707699

    ↩

  2. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

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  4. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

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  5. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  6. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  7. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

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