Cyperus cyperoides (L.) O.Kuntze, Cyperaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Kyllinga sumatrensis Retz.; Mariscus sumatrensis (Retz.) J. Raynal; Mariscus umbellatus Vahl; Scirpus cyperoides L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: zhuan zi miao

English: Pacific island flat sedge

Kwara‘ae: baubau

Niuean: motie pako, pako

Samoan: ta‘ata‘a, tuise

Tahitian: mo‘u upo‘o taratara

Tongan: pakopako

Habit:  sedge

Description:  "Perennials. Rhizomes short, hardened. Culms laxly tufted, 10-60 cm tall, acutely triquetrous, smooth, base swollen and with more leaves. Leaves shorter than to equaling culm; sheath brown to reddish brown; leaf blade 3-6(-8) mm wide, folded at basal part but apically gradually flattened, margin not scabrous. Involucral bracts 5-8, obliquely spreading, leaflike, longer than inflorescence. Inflorescence a simple or subcompound anthela; rays several, 6-12 or sometimes more, short or 6-14 cm, unequal in length, each with 1-5 spikes. Spikes cylindric, 1-2.5[-5] cm x 5-10 mm or sometimes narrower, with many dense spikelets. Spikelets narrowly linear-ovoid, 3-7 x ca. 0.7 mm or sometimes shorter, spreading to reflexed, each (1 or) 2- or 3-flowered; rachilla wings white, lanceolate, broad, hyaline. Glumes yellow, yellowish green, or greenish, oblong, ca. 3 mm, veins several with middle 3 green and conspicuous, margin involute, apex obtuse and not mucronate. Stamens 3; anthers broadly linear, 0.8-1 mm; connective prominent beyond anthers. Style short; stigmas 3, slender. Nutlet straw-colored at first but dark brown when mature, narrowly oblong, 1.8-2.2 x ca. 0.5 mm, ca. 2/3 as long as subtending glume, 3-sided, minutely punctate"  (Flora of China online).

"Tufted herb, culms to about 50 cm tall, thickened at the base; leaves 10-20 cm long, 3-5 mm wide; inflorescence of several spikes, these up to 10-12 cm long though usually shorter; spikelets crowded, spreading at right angles to the rachis, lanceolate, 4-6 mm long"  (Stone, 1970; p. 168).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "a naturalized adventive, occurring infrequently between sea level and 900 m, on open grassy slopes and river banks, and in coconut plantations" (Smith, 1979; p. 256).  "Uncommon to occasional in disturbed places" (Whistler, 1988; p. 44). In Papua New Guinea "A common sedge of open or lightly-shaded situations, and a weed of pastures and plantations" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 30).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Tropical Africa, tropical and subtropical Asia, Malesia, and northern Australia" (Smith, 1979; p. 256).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Garber 647, Yuncker 9132, Whistler 1404
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9132 (BISH), Garber 647 (BISH); subsp. cyperinus: Garber 649 (BISH), W. Harris 121 (BISH), W. Harris 32 (BISH)
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	native	Skottsberg, Carl (1953) (p. 69)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	native	Ohba, T. (1994) (p. 65) Voucher cited: CBM-BS-59222
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 65-66)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 65-66)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 41351) Taxon name on voucher: Cyperus cyperoides
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2005) (voucher ID: PTBG 42671) Taxon name on voucher: Cyperus cyperoides
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 65-66)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 121)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 41) Naturalized
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (p. 256) Voucher cited: DA 8899
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (p. 256) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 176, 176A; Gillespie 4178; DA 7300, 7310, 7312, 7852
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence, D.H. Lorence, S.P. Perlman & W.L. Wagner 9595 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 36)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 12147 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island		Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 17) Found once, not seen in 1985. Voucher cited: Raynal 17821
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 2190 (PAP), J. Florence 4718 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 36)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 3687 (PAP), P. Morat 6947 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5271 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 36)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 7639 (PAP); as Mariscus sumatrensis (A.J. Retzius) J. Raynal: J. Florence 7639 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 9028 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 6105 (PAP), J. Florence 9184 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11130 (PAP) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 168)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 65-66) Native per Stone, introduced per Fosberg.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Strong, Mark T./Wagner, Warren L. (1997) (pp. 40-41) Voucher cited: Hosaka 1558 (BISH) Naturalized, but present status unknown.
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands		Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 227) Vouchers cited: CHR 150599, CHR 150600
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 44)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 25) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9670 (BISH), Yuncker 9739 (BISH) "A common weed along roadsides and in waste areas".
Papua New Guinea Bougainville Islands	Bougainville Island		Foreman, D. B. (1971) (p. 24)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 30) In New Guinea from low altitudes to at least 2000 m; troublesome as a weed at higher elevations.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 44)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 62)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Tofua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 86) Voucher cited: Scarth-Johnson 108
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 69) "Occasional throughout Tonga".
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 69) Voucher cited: Hürlmann 37
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Late Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1981) (p. 352)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Tafahi Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 69) Voucher cited: Hürlmann 564
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 86) Voucher cited: Crosby 173
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	native	Morat, Ph./Veillon, J.-M. (1985) Morat & Veillon, 1985, cited in Meyer, 2007
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 44)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Sunny places on mountain slopes, grasslands along trails, ditch margins, river margins, wet places, forests, among herbs, sometimes in dry places; 100-1000 (3200) m. Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, S Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xisha Qundao, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 318) As Mariscus umbellatus Vahl. On grassland of hillslopes.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Honshu
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 31) Weed of uncertain origin
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Sunny places on mountain slopes, grasslands along trails, ditch margins, river margins, wet places, forests, among herbs, sometimes in dry places; 100-1000 (3200) m.
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Comoros Comoro Islands	Comoro Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Cyperus cyperoides, please let us know.