Cyperus ustulatus

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
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]
  • Mariscus ustulatus (A.Rich.) C.B.Clarke
  • Cyperus ustulatus f. grandispiculosus Kük.

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 name toetoe by itself generally refers to Austroderia which are in Poaceae, a different family. Alonside raupō (Typha orientalis), upoko-tangata was a material used in traditional kite making by Māori.[4]

References
  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. "Toetoe upoko-tangata". Greater Wellington Regional Council. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  4. Neich, Roger (1996). "New Zealand Maori Barkcloth and Barkcloth Beaters". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 33: 111–158. ISSN 0067-0464.
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