Cyperus eragrostis  Lam.   Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)   Native & South America   Tall Umbrella Plant   Tall Umbrella Sedge

                                          July Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Perennial sedge; culms triangular, smooth, erect, 10-90 cm. tall; leaves basal, 6-10, about as long as the culm, scabrellate on the margin and sometimes on the midrib; inflorescence a compact umbel, the clusters of spikelets almost sessile or on rays to 12 cm. long; bracts 4-8, 3-50 cm.; rays 0-10, 20-100 mm.; spikelets flat, 10-20 mm. long, 3-3.5 mm. wide, in spheric heads, the rachis straight; scales ovate, acute, keeled, straw colored; fr. body +/- as long as wide, stalked.

Habitat:  Moist land, coastal So. Calif., Coast Ranges, Sierra Nev. foothills; to Ore., Mex., temp. S. Am. May-Nov.

Name:  Greek, cypeiros, the classical name.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 896).  Greek, era, earth, field.   Greek, agrestis, pertaining to the land seems a duplication.  (Jaeger 10, 94).  

General:  Moderately common in the study area.  Photographed on the North Star Flats and along Back Bay Dr. in the seep just below Eastbluff Dr.  (my comments).     A genus of about 600 species of tropical and temperate regions.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 896).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 1139; Mason 269; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 897; Robbins et al. 115; Roberts 43.

Photo Ref:  Aug 1 84 # 22,23; July 1 86 # 11,12,13.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

First Found:  August 1984.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 20.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 5/6/05.

                        August Photo                                                                         July Photo