Cyperus ustulatus
Species of plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cyperus ustulatus, also known as giant umbrella-sedge[2] or coastal cutty grass is a species of sedge native to New Zealand. C. ustulatus generally grows in coastal or lowland areas near water in the North Island and on the Kermadec Islands.[1]
| giant umbrella-sedge | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Genus: | Cyperus |
| Species: | C. ustulatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Cyperus ustulatus | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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The leaves are wide, shiny and folded. It produces long, dark brown seed heads after flowering in summer. The seed heads are held by a cluster of leaves at the top of the plant.[3]
The Māori name for the plant is toetoe upoko-tangata. The word toetoe by itself generally refers to Austroderia which are in Poaceae, a different family. Alongside cattails (Typha orientalis, called raupō in the Māori language), it was a material used in traditional Māori kite-making.[4]
