View source for Cyperus alternifolius

{{Short description|Species of plant in the family Cyperaceae, native to Africa}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Cyperus alternifolius 2.jpg
|genus = Cyperus
|species = alternifolius
|authority = [[Christen Friis Rottbøll|Rottb.]], 1772
|synonyms_ref =<ref name=AA/>
|synonyms =
*''Cyperus alternifolius'' Baker 
*''Cyperus alternifolius var. albovariegatus'' auct. 
*''Cyperus alternifolius var. obtusangulum'' (Boeckeler) T.Koyama 
*''Cyperus alternifolius var. petersianus'' (Boeckeler) Kük. 
*''Cyperus flagellatus'' Hochst. 
*''Cyperus gradatus'' Forssk.
*''Cyperus involucratus'' Rottb. 
*''Cyperus petersianus'' Boeckeler 
*''Cyperus proximus'' Steud. 
}}

'''''Cyperus alternifolius''''', the '''umbrella papyrus''', '''umbrella sedge''' or '''umbrella palm''', is a grass-like plant in the large genus ''[[Cyperus]]'' of the [[sedge]] family [[Cyperaceae]]. The plant is native to [[West Africa]], [[Madagascar]] and the [[Arabian Peninsula]], but widely distributed throughout the world.<ref name = POWO>{{cite web | url = https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:303729-1 | title = Cyperus alternifolius | website = Plants of the World Online (POWO) | publisher = Kew Science | access-date = 6 March 2021}}</ref> It has gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]].<ref name = RHSPF>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/5204/Cyperus-involucratus/Details | title = ''Cyperus involucratus'' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 1 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=AGM Plants March 2020 © RHS – ORNAMENTAL |date=March 2020 |website=rhs.org.uk |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf |publisher=The Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=11 September 2020 }}</ref> The subspecies ''Cyperus alternifolius'' ssp. ''flabelliformis'' is also known as ''Cyperus involucratus'' {{small|[[Christen Friis Rottbøll|Rottb.]]}}.<ref name=AA>{{cite web |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-235595 |work=The Plant List |title=''Cyperus alternifolius'' |author=Kew |display-authors=etal |access-date=January 23, 2013 }}</ref>

==Cultivation==
''Cyperus alternifolius'' is frequently cultivated as an [[ornamental plant]] worldwide. It is planted in gardens in the ground, pots, in ponds, and as a [[houseplant]]. It is not [[Hardiness (plants)|hardy]], and requires protection when temperatures fall below {{convert|5|C|F|abbr=on}}<ref name = RHSPF/> ([[USDA]] Zones: 9a–11b).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/cyperus/graceful-grasses-baby-tut-umbrella-grass-cyperus-involucratus|title=Graceful Grasses® Baby Tut® - Umbrella Grass - Cyperus involucratus|website=Proven Winners |access-date=September 22, 2019 }}</ref> It is propagated by dividing the roots or cutting off a top and placing it upside down in a glass of water. It requires copious moisture and can grow in a few inches of water.<ref>{{cite book | last=Pink |first=Alfred | url=https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11892 |title=Gardening for the Million|date=April 1, 2004 |publisher=[[Project Gutenberg|Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation]]}}</ref> The cultivar ''Cyperus alternifolius'' 'Variegatus' is grown for its [[Variegation|variegated foliage]] and smaller size.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=y850 |work=Missouri Botanical Garden.org |title=''Cyperus alternifolius'' Variegatus |access-date=January 23, 2013 }}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Umbrella papyrus (potted).jpg
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of Cyperus species|List of ''Cyperus'' species]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Cyperus alternifolius|'''Cyperus alternifolius'''}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q132993}}

[[Category:Cyperus|alternifolius]]
[[Category:Freshwater plants]]
[[Category:House plants]]
[[Category:Garden plants of Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of Madagascar]]
[[Category:Flora of Eritrea]]
[[Category:Flora of Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Flora of Somalia]]
[[Category:Flora of Sudan]]
[[Category:Flora of Kenya]]
[[Category:Flora of Tanzania]]
[[Category:Flora of Uganda]]
[[Category:Flora of Malawi]]
[[Category:Flora of Mozambique]]
[[Category:Flora of Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Flora of Réunion]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1772]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Christen Friis Rottbøll]]
{{Cyperus-stub}}