Cyperus papyrus
Common name
papyrus
Family
Cyperaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Sedges
Conservation status
Not applicable
Brief description
Very tall (to 2.5 m) clump forming leafless reed-like plant with wide triangular stems several cm across, with many (often more than 100) drooping thread-like green flower branches at the top of each stem forming a mop-like structure.
Distribution
Mostly northern North Island, usually close to habitation, but occasionally in remote sites.
Habitat
Emergent in still and slow flowing water bodies.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
OBL: Obligate Wetland
Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands (non-wetlands).
Detailed description
Erect perennial sedge to 2.5–(4) m tall with triangular stems up to 4 cm across arising from short thick woody rhizomes. Leaves reduced to papery brown basal sheaths. Inflorescence terminal subtended by 4–10 deciduous sheath-like bracts 7–15 cm × 1 cm; compound often with >100 filamentous branches 10–25 cm × 1 mm, often sterile; fertile spikes are 3–5 spikes with 20–30 spikelets, each 3–20 flowered. Viable seed production not known from New Zealand.
Similar taxa
Distinctive tall leafless sedge with mop-like flower heads, unlikely to be mistaken for other naturalised sedges.
Flowering
Summer
Flower colours
Green
Life cycle
Perennial. Reproduces in New Zealand probably only by asexual spread through layering (seed is occasionally produced but it is not yet known if it is viable). Dispersed by deliberate planting or garden discards. However some occurrences are in very remote situations and are difficult to explain if they had originated from garden discards.
Origin
Africa
Reason for introduction
Ornamental plant
Control techniques
Not controlled in New Zealand.
Tolerances
Cold sensitive
Etymology
cyperus: From the ancient Greek name for sedge, kypeiros
Attribution
Factsheet prepared by Paul Champion and Deborah Hofstra (NIWA).
References and further reading
Sainty GR, Jacobs SWL. 1981. Waterplants of New South Wales. Water Resources Commission NSW. 550 p.