Cyperus ligularis L., Cyperaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Mariscus ligularis (L.) Urb.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Caribbean sedge, rocket sedge, swamp flatsedge

Habit:  sedge

Description:  "Herbs, perennial, solitary or cespitose, rhizomatous, coarse. Culms trigonous, (30-) 60-130 cm x 1-4 (-9) mm, densely papillose, otherwise glabrous. Leaves with cross ribs prominent, V-shaped, 30-100 cm x 5-13 (-20) mm, margins, keel incisive with brownish prickles, papillose throughout, margins and midribs harshly scabrid. Inflorescences: spikes 3-7, densely oblong-cylindric to ± globose, 10-28 (-35) x 8-12 (-15) mm; rays 5-12, 1-16 cm, densely papillose; bracts 5-12, ascending at 30-75°, flat to V-shaped, 4-50 (-90) cm x 1-15 mm; rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, (0.2-) 0.3-0.5 (-0.6) mm. Spikelets 20-80, oblong-ellipsoid, ± terete, slightly compressed, 3-7 x 1-2 (-2.7) mm; distal spikelets spreading or ascending; floral scales (2-) 4-7, appressed, clear to brownish, reddish streaked, medially green, 9-11-ribbed, ovate, (2-) 2.5-3.3 x 1.2-2.3 mm, apex acute, mucronate. Flowers: anthers 0.6-0.8 mm, styles 0.5-1 mm; stigmas 1-2.3 mm. Achenes brown, slightly stipitate, obovoid to broadly ellipsoid, (1.2-) 1.5-1.6 (-1.7) x 0.6-0.8 mm, apex apiculate, surfaces puncticulate"  (Flora of North America online).

"Robust plants, rhizomes short, clump-forming, culms to 100 cm tall; leaves 5-12 mm wide; bracteal leaves elongate; inflorescence of several short branches bearing very dense, short subcylindric spikes; spikelets 4-6 mm long, dark reddish-brown, the glumes obtuse; achene obovate, sharply trigonal, 1.5 mm long, slightly papillose, dark brown" (Stone, 1970; pp. 169-170).

Habitat/ecology:  "Beaches, brackish marshes, mangrove swamps, disturbed soils, ditches, riverbanks, coastal croplands; 0 m"  (Flora of North America online).  "In wet sand of seashore and wet open grassland near the coast" (Wiggins & Porter, 1971; p. 806).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Tropical America and Africa, including Madagascar (Stone, 1970; pp. 169-170).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 67) Presence not verified.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 67)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (pp. 169-170) Voucher cited: Stone 4053 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 67)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1994) (voucher ID: PTBG 22349) Taxon name on voucher: Cyperus ligularis L.
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 37) Potentially invasive.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (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
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		Stoddart, D. R./Taylor, J. D., eds. (1971) (p. 146) Vouchers cited: Stoddart 785 (K, US), Stoddart 878 (K, US), Rhyne 661 (US)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (p. 23)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1995) (voucher ID: PTBG 44850) Taxon name on voucher: Cyperus ligularis
Maldives Maldive Islands	Addu Atoll		Spicer, R. A./Newberry, D. MacC. (1979) (p. 14)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Agalega Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Stoddart, D. R. (1983) (p. 120) Vouchers cited: Wiehe 1605 (MAU), Stoddart 7248 (US)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Alphonse Island		Robertson, I. A. D./Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 180) Voucher cited: Robertson 2878 (K)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Coetivy Island		Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 148) Voucher cited: Robertson 3055 (K)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Cousin Island	native	Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 22) Voucher cited: Fosberg 52119 (US)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	D'Arros Island		Stoddart, D. R./Coe, M. J./Fosberg, F. R. (1979) (p. 20) Vouchers cited: Gwynne & Wood 960 (EA), Stoddart 7191 (US)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Desnoeufs Island		Wilson, J. R. (1983) (p. 208)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Frégate Island		Robertson, S. A./Todd, D. M. (1983) (p. 49) Voucher cited: Procter 4175
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Marie-Louise Island		Wilson, J. R. (1983) (p. 191)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Platte Island		Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 160) Voucher cited: Robertson 3041 (K)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Poivre Island		Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 170) Voucher cited: Robertson 2340 (K)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	St. Joseph Island		Stoddart, D. R./Coe, M. J./Fosberg, F. R. (1979) (p. 44) Voucher cited: Stoddart 7141 (US)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Extensively naturalizing on Majuro, Marshall Islands (Nancy Vander Velde, pers. com.).

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