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CYPERUS ROTUNDUS
Common name: musta, mustaka, ko - bushi,
nutgrass, tirirca, nutsedge, purple nutsedge, adru.
Family:
cyperaceae (sedge family).
Purple Nutsedge is a smooth, erect, perennial sedge (
Figure 2 ). It has a fibrous root system which is extensively branched. The
plant spreads by means of slender rhizomes. Its tubers are white and succulent
when young, turning brown or black and fibrous with age. The erect, simple culms
are smooth, solid and triangular in cross section. The culms are frequently up
to 36-40 cm tall, occasionally to 70 cm, and have been found to reach 100 cm on
moist fertile soils. The leaves originate from the base of the plant. They are
linear with sharp tips and may be much shorter than, or as long as, the culm is
tall, and are usually not more than 5 mm wide. The leaves are smooth, shiny,
dark green and grooved on the upper surface. The seedhead consists of 3-8
unequal, slender, three-sided stalks. The red to purplish brown spikelets are up
to 3.5 cm long and 2 mm wide and are clustered at the ends of the stalks. Each
spikelet is made up of from 10-40 individual flowers. The fruit is 1.5-2 mm
long, 1.5 mm wide, triangular in cross section, grayish brown and dull. Both the
apex and the base of the fruit are rounded. The seedhead is subtended by 2-4
leaf-like bracts, about as long as, or shorter than, the seedhead
A common weed in Suriname; herbaceous
perennial with purple - brown flowers.
Purple nutsedge grows up to 2½' tall.
The leaves are dark green, grass-like, with a prominent vein on the underside.
It has red-brown spikelets with up to 40 individual flowers.
Triangular stems bear tufts of leaves atop; strong clumps of many stems are
formed under good conditions.
The dried tuberous roots are collected, dried and used in traditional medicine.
It is called rhizoma cyperi.
In India, nutgrass is used in hair - and skin care products. It stimulates
sebaceous glands near hair roots.
Also interesting is that the oil, an amber viscous liquid, extracted from this
plant is used in perfumery.
Pharmacology: the rhizome contains: flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and
fatty oils (glycerides).
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