v6i2.146

Submitted date: 19 December 2013
Accepted date: 17 January 2014
Published date: 30 August 2014
Pp. 137–139, Pl. 15.

Cyperus papyrus L. (Cyperaceae): a new record for Western Ghats, India

A.R. Viji, S. Deepu & A.G. Pandurangan*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: agpandurangan@gmail.com

Cyperus L. (Cyperaceae) contains about 600 species and distributed mainly in the tropics. In India, it is represented by 70 species, of which 48 are found in Kerala State. It is a taxonomically complex genus and the treatment of Cyperus by Kuekenthal in 1935–1936 is considered to be an useful treatment even now. They usually grow in wetland vegetation, mud banks, open areas, etc. While studying the sedge flora of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the authors collected an interesting species of Cyperus, from the Western Ghats in the Wayanad District, Kerala State. On examination, the species was identified as Cyperus papyrus L., a naturalised ornamental in Africa and North America. Scrutiny of the literature revealed that it was not reported from Western Ghats earlier but known from Gujarat and Rajasthan, India.

Section Editor: James L. Reveal