236. CYPERUS PROLIFER Cyperaceae

David Simpson

The genus Cyperus L. Comprises about 600 species and is the second largest genus in the Cyperaceae next to Carex. Several species are well-known in cultivation (e.g. Cyperus inuolucratus Rottb., the UMBRELLA PLANT) while one species ( C . rotundus L.) has the unfor- tunate reputation of being the ‘the world’s worst weed’.

C. prolifer illustrated here is one of the more unusual members of this genus. Fortunately it is not a weed, but neither can it be considered the most colourful of plants. However, its lack of coloration is more than made up for by its remarkable appearance.

The main feature that attracts attention is the inflorescence. This is an umbel-like structure with numerous, very thin branches radiating from a central point at the top ofthe flowering stem (culm), each supporting clusters of minute spikelets. Sometimes the spikelets do not develop, a state which seems to be particularly common in cultivated material. Each branch has a small brownish tubular prophyll at its base and the whole inflorescence is subtended by several narrow leafy involucral bracts. I t looks altogether like a miniature PAPYRUS ( C . papyrus L.), a species with a similar inflores- cence structure although the two are not closely related. I t also bears a passing resemblance to a dandelion clock or, more fancifully perhaps, an exploding firework.

The unusual appearance of C. prolifer is further accentuated by the reduction of the leaves to bladeless sheaths, a feature which is again shared with C. papyrus. The sheaths are generally reddish brown and clothe the base of the culm. They are probably not involved in photosynthesis which is more likely to take place in the culm itself, together with the involucral bracts and inflorescence branches, all of which are green.

C. prolifer is a relatively common species occurring in eastern and southern Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands. It is generally found in swampy ground and by the sides of streams, or in habitats which are seasonally flooded. I t has a creeping rhizome and the culms are usually crowded together along this structure allowing the plant to form rather large, uniform stands under the right conditions.

Kukenthal ( 1936) separated var. isocladus from typical material

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Cyperus prolqer

Plate 236

ANN FARRER

based on C. isocladus described by Kunth (1837). This plant was described as having trigonous (i.e. triangular) culms whereas in typical material they were considered to be terete (i.e. rounded). However, there is a continuous range of variation between the culm types and, indeed, both types are often seen on the same plant. This strongly suggests that the variety is not worth maintaining and therefore I have reduced it here to synonymy.

C. prolifer makes an interesting indoor or conservatory subject especially where a plant is desired that is similar in appearance to C. papyrus but smaller and less vigorous. I t is sometimes available commercially, but in the trade it is incorrectly named C. harpan and Graf (1985) refers to it as Cyperus harpan uiviparus. C. harpan L. is a common pantropical species which is closely related to C. prolifer and, indeed, a specimen in Kew has been named as a hybrid between the two. C. haspan does bear a superficial resemblance to C. prolifer but is less attractive, having rather weak often trailing stems, more prominent involucral bracts and many fewer branches in the inflorescence giving a less pronounced ‘umbel’.

CULTIVATION. Cyperusproliferdoes best under warm conditions with permanently wet soil. A minimum growing temperature of c. 18°C is required with a minimum overwintering temperature of 7-10°C. If grown in a container, it should be kept in a shallow tray of water. There are no particular requirements as to the type of soil, but the plant does need as much light as can be made available. Propagation is best carried out by division.

Cyperus prolifer Lam., Ill. 1: 47 ( 1 791); K. Schum. in Engl., Pflanzenw., Ost-Afr. c: 119 (1895); C. B. Clarkein T. Durand & Schinz, Consp. F1. Afr. 5: 572 (1895) & in Dyer, F1. Trop. Afr. 8: 339 (1902); Kuk. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 20,101 Heft: 256 (1936); R. W. Haines & K. A. Lye, Sedges & Rushes ofE. Afr.: 171 (1983). Type: Mauritius, Martin s.n. (P). Cyperus aequalis Vahl, Enum. 2: 320 (1806) nom. superfl. C. papyroides Poir., Encycl. 7: 272 (1806) nom. superfl. C. isocladus Kunth, Enum. PI. 2: 37 (1837); C. B. Clarke in T. Durand &

Schinz, Consp, F1. Afr. 5: 565 (1895) & in Dyer, F1. Capens. 7: 175 (1897) & in Dyer, F1. Trop. Afr. 8: 339 (1902). Type: South Africa, Natal, Drige 4430,4431 & 4432 (syntypes ?B).

C. aequalis var.J Boeck. in Peters, Reise Mossamb. 2: 538 (1864). C. prolifer var. J isocladus (Kunth) Kiik. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 20, 101

Heft: 257 (1936).

DESCRIPTION. Rather robust, rhizomatousperennial sedge. Roots fibrous. Rhizome creeping. Culms crowded along rhizome, erect, 22-1 15 cm long, 1.5-5.5 mm

0 Bentham-Moxon Trusr 1994. 7

wide, terete, glabrous, green. Leaves reduced to bladeless sheaths; sheaths cylindric, splitting, 2-32 cm long, 0.2-1 cm wide, acute, shortly mucron- ate, glabrous, dark reddish or reddish brown. Involucral bracts 3, leaf-like, linear to narrowly lanceolate, 0.5-8 cm long, 0.1-0.3 crn wide, acute, flat to somewhat channelled or inrolled, green to reddish. Inflorescence umbelli- form, 6-24 cm diam., comprising up to 100 branches, each supporting a digitate cluster ofspikelets or 1 sessile and 1 -several shortly stalked clusters of spikelets; prophyll at base of branch tubular, 5-8 mm long, reddish brown. Spikelets linear to narrowly lanceolate, 3-12 mm long, 0.8-1.3 mm wide, pale reddish brown; plumes oblong, 1.2-1.5 mrn long, 0.6-0.8 mm wide, rounded to k truncate, shortly mucronate, keel green to brown, sides pale reddish brown with paler margin. Stamens (2-)3; anthers oblong, 0.6- 0.8 mm long, connective spine-like; filaments to 1 mm long. Stigma branches 3. Achene obovate, 3-sided, 0.4-0.5 mm long, 0.3-0.4 mm wide, apex rounded; achene surface whitish to pale brown, smooth to minutely papillose.

0) . .. . .: ..... . . . : ..:; .::,,; : ::;3 .::..

<;. ..,.. il .. ~ .~ ..-

Cyprus prolifer. A, spikelet, X 6; B, glume, X 12; C, stamens and gynoecium, X 20; D, achene, X 60. Drawn by Ann Farrer.

DISTRIBUTION. Eastern and southern Africa, Madagascar, Mascarene

HABITAT. Edges of swamps, streams and in seasonally flooded areas, 0- Islands.

600 m.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. Thanks are due'to Michael Marsh for information on cultivation.

8 0 Bentham-Moxon Trust 1994.

REFERENCES

Graf, A. B. (1985). Exotica, ser. 4. 12th ed. Roehrs Company, East

Kukenthal, G. ( 1936). Cyperaceae-Scirpoideae-Cypereae, in Engler, A.

Kunth, C. S. (1837). Enumeratio Plantarum 11. Stutgardiae & Tubingae.

Rutherford.

(ed.). Das PJIanzenreich IV. 20, 101 Heft. Leipzig.

237. CYRTANTHUS HERREI Ama7yllidaceae

Clare Reid

For many people the word ‘Richtersveld’ conjures up images of a remote, harsh, desert-like landscape populated only by the most hardy ofsucculent and spiny plants. While this may be true, it is only part of the picture, for the landscape is one ofgreat beauty, with range upon range ofmountains receding into the distance, in ever-changing hues from rosy dawns to spectacular multicoloured sunsets. Occa- sional deep kloofs with perennial water cut a green swathe ofgrasses, sedges and rushes through the mountains. Rains at the right season bring forth carpets of brightly-coloured annuals. This land of contrasts in the far north-western Cape Province is also the home of Cyrtanthus herrei (Leighton) R. A. Dyer, far from its nearest relatives to the south.

The genus Cyrtanthus Aiton is mainly southern and eastern African, with about fifty species recorded from South Africa (Reid & Dyer, 1984) and an unknown number of species from East Africa. Nordal (1979) recognized one species and four subspecies in the latter area, but this treatment differs from that of Reid & Dyer and it is obvious that fieldwork within the entire distribution range of the genus is required.

Dahlgren, Clifford & Yeo ( 1985), in theirsimplified classificationof Amaryllidaceae, placed Cyrtanthus within the predominantly South African tribe Haemantheae; however, the genus is somewhat anomalous within the tribe in that it has flattened, black, phytomelan-encrusted seeds with delayed germination, whereas the remaining South African genera have globose, usually green, seeds which frequently germinate precociously.

Cyrtanthus is noted for its beauty and variety of flower colour and form. Several species are well known in cultivation, with the sweetly scented C. mackenii Hook. f., in its various colour forms, and C. elatus

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