Description

• Cyperus alternifolius, commonly known as umbrella papyrus or umbrella sedge, is a perennial, clump-forming plant in the sedge family (Cyperaceae). It has upright, triangular stems topped by a distinctive circular arrangement of long, narrow bracts that resemble the ribs of an umbrella. Small, inconspicuous brownish flowers grow in clusters near the centre of this bract arrangement. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, particularly around ponds and water gardens.

Range

• Cyperus alternifolius is native to Madagascar and has been introduced and cultivated widely in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. It can escape cultivation and become naturalised in suitable wet environments. It is cultivated in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.

Habitat

• It thrives in wet habitats, including marshes, stream margins, pond edges, drainage channels, and seasonally flooded ground. It prefers consistently moist or waterlogged soil and grows well in full sun or partial shade in warm climates.