Cyperus vorsteri facts for kids

Cyperus vorsteri is a type of plant known as a sedge. It belongs to the Cyperaceae family, which includes many grass-like plants. This sedge is native to southern Africa.

What it Looks Like

Cyperus vorsteri is a strong plant that lives for many years. It grows from underground stems called rhizomes. These plants usually grow to about 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) tall. They form thick clumps.

The main stems, called culms, are triangular and smooth. They are usually between 0.5 to 1.5 m (1.6 to 4.9 ft) tall. Their thickness is about 8 millimetres (0.31 in). The leaves are a deep green color. They often grow longer than the stems. These leaves are 7 to 14 mm (0.28 to 0.55 in) wide. They also have small bumps that you can feel.

This plant flowers in the spring, from August to November. Its flowers grow in large, branched clusters called inflorescences. These clusters have seven to thirteen branches. Each branch can be up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long. The flower spikes are shaped like cylinders. They are about 2 cm (0.79 in) long and 1 cm (0.39 in) wide. After flowering, the plant forms a dark yellow-brown nut. This nut is triangular and has a narrow oval shape. It is about 1.8 to 2.3 mm (0.07 to 0.09 in) long and 0.6 mm (0.02 in) wide.

How it Got its Name

This sedge was first described in 1898. A botanist named Charles Baron Clarke gave it the name Mariscus grantii. This happened as part of a larger plant study called Cyperaceae. Flora Capensis.

Later, in 1994, another botanist named Karen Wilson reclassified the plant. She moved it into the Cyperus group. This new classification was published in a science journal called Telopea.

Where it Grows

Cyperus vorsteri is originally from South Africa. This means it is endemic to that country.

However, it has also been introduced to other places. You can now find it in Western Australia. There, it grows along streams and creeks. It is especially common in Kalamunda, near Perth. It likes to grow in sandy-clay soils.

The plant has also spread to areas around Sydney, Australia. It often grows in parks and woodlands where the ground has been disturbed.