| Galingale | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Genus: | Cyperus |
| Species: | C. longus |
| Binomial name | |
| Cyperus longus | |
Cyperus longus is a species of sedge known by the common names of sweet cyperus and water rush in Africa, [1] or in Britain galingale [2] (a variant name of galangal, an unrelated plant).
It is a tall plant, growing up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) in height, with creeping rhizomes and erect, triangular stems, each terminating in an inflorescence. The species grows in shallow water or on damp ground, such as at pond edges. [3]
It is a widespread species found across Africa, southern Europe, the Indian subcontinent and western Asia. [1] It incidentally occurs in Wallonia as a native. [4] It is also found in western France, south Wales and southern England, where it may or not originally be native. [3] It has recently (since the 1990s) spread northwards to Flanders and the Netherlands where it occurs in scattered adventive populations. [4] It has also been introduced to Tristan da Cunha and Western Australia. [1]
Cyperus longus L. subsp. longus - the typical subspecies. Loose inflorescence with numerous (2–10) elongated rays (to 35 cm), very uneven, the most elongated bearing inflorescences with rays extending far beyond the median cluster ("épi"). Spikelets 4-25(60) mm. Glumes usually red, with a well-developed hyaline margin. [5]
Cyperus longus subsp. badius (Desf.) Bonnier & Layens - Inflorescence tighter, with few (2–5) short rays (to 5 cm rarely more, not exceeding the median cluster ("épi")), less uneven, heads often quite compact. Spikelets 4–12 mm. Glumes usually somewhat brownish with no or poorly developed hyaline margin, with a similar distribution. [6] [7] [8]
The thick, long, yellowish rhizomes of these plants are traditionally harvested to distil a sweet-scented oil which is used in the perfume industry. The stalks were formerly traditionally processed into paper. There were also folk medicines made from this plant in Europe, the rhizomes being used for stomach aches and the onset of dropsy. It is used at present as an ornamental plant, used for lining ponds. [4]
A raceme or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the shoot grows in height, with no predetermined growth limit. Examples of racemes occur on mustard and radish plants.
Cyperus is a large genus of about 700 species of sedges, distributed throughout all continents in both tropical and temperate regions.
Elymus repens, commonly known as couch grass, is a very common perennial species of grass native to most of Europe, Asia, the Arctic biome, and northwest Africa. It has been brought into other mild northern climates for forage or erosion control, but is often considered a weed.
Cyperus rotundus is a species of sedge (Cyperaceae) native to Africa, southern and central Europe, and southern Asia. The word cyperus derives from the Greek κύπερος, kyperos, and rotundus is from Latin, meaning "round". The earliest attested form of the word cyperus is the Mycenaean Greek 𐀓𐀞𐀫, ku-pa-ro, written in Linear B syllabic script.
Cyperus bulbosus is a species of sedge found across Africa, the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia. In Australia, it is commonly called Nalgoo or (Australian) bush onion or "wild onion", but is not related to the onion or other Alliaceae. It is a component of Australian bushfood, but is considered an agricultural weed in other areas.
Bromus hordeaceus, the soft brome, is an annual or biennial species of grass in the grass family (Poaceae). It is also known in North America as bull grass, soft cheat, and soft chess.
Rhynchospora alba, the white beak-sedge, is a plant in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It is a tufted herbaceous perennial around 50 cm tall, with white inflorescences that flower in August. The fruit of the sedge is a small achene with a characteristic beak-like cap. It is dispersed by wind or falls by gravity, leading to individuals existing in tight clumps. The species favours wet, acidic and nutrient poor soils, thriving in Sphagnum-dominated bogs, but also peaty grasslands. As such, it is often used as a positive indicator for bog and mire ecosystem health.
Cyperus difformis is a species of sedge known by several common names, including variable flatsedge, smallflower umbrella-sedge and rice sedge. This plant is native to southern Europe, most of Africa and Asia, and Australia, and it is naturalized in other areas of the world, including large parts of the Americas.
Cyperus fuscus is a species of sedge known by the common name brown galingale, or brown flatsedge. This plant is native to much of Europe, Asia and North Africa from England, Portugal and Morocco east to China and Thailand. It is an introduced species in North America, where it is naturalized in widely scattered locations in the United States and Canada.
Calamagrostis stricta, known as slim-stem small reed grass or narrow small-reed, is a species of bunchgrass in the family Poaceae of the Holarctic Kingdom.
Carex leptalea is a species of sedge known by the common names bristly-stalked sedge and flaccid sedge. It is native to much of North America including most of Canada, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. It only grows in wetlands. This sedge produces dense clusters of thin stems up to 70 centimeters tall from a network of branching rhizomes. The thin, deep green leaves are soft, hairless, and sometimes drooping. The inflorescence is up to 16 millimeters long but only 2 to 3 millimeters wide, and is yellow-green in color. There are only a few perigynia on each spikelet, and they are green and veined.
Cyperus laevigatus is a species of sedge known by the common name smooth flatsedge.
Redfieldia, known as blowout grass, is a monotypic genus in the grass family (Poaceae). The sole species, Redfieldia flexuosa, is native to sandhills in the western and central United States. The plants grow in small clusters, protecting each other from the harsh desert conditions.
Cyperus trachysanthos is a rare species of sedge known by the common names pu`uka`a and sticky flatsedge. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from Kauai and Oahu. It was known from Niihau, Molokai and Lanai, but it has been extirpated from these islands. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Cyperus grayoides is a species of sedge known as Illinois flatsedge and Mohlenbrock's umbrella sedge. It is endemic to the United States, where its distribution extends from Illinois through Missouri and Arkansas to Texas and Louisiana.
Cyperus betchei is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to Australia.
Cyperus congestus, commonly known as dense flat-sedge or clustered flat-sedge, is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to southern Africa mostly in South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia.
Cyperus serotinus is a species of sedge that is native to parts of Europe and Asia.
Cyperus prolixus is a species of sedge that is native to southern parts of North America, Central America and tropical parts of South America. It is a perennial plant that grows up to 2 meters tall. The leaves are long and narrow, and the flowers are small and white. Cyperus prolixus is found in a variety of habitats, including wetlands, meadows, and roadsides. It is a common plant and is not considered to be threatened or endangered.
Rhynchospora gracillima is a widespread species of sedge.
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