| 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 A.Rich. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Cyperus ustulatus, also known as giant umbrella-sedge 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.
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.
The Māori name for the plant is toetoe upoko-tangata. The word toetoe by itself generally refers to Austroderia which are in Poaceae, a different family. Alongside cattails (Typha orientalis, called raupō in the Maori language), it was a material used in traditional Māori kite-making.
See also
References
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- "Toetoe upoko-tangata". Greater Wellington Regional Council. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- Neich, Roger (1996). "New Zealand Maori Barkcloth and Barkcloth Beaters". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 33: 111–158. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906461. Wikidata Q58677501.
 | This Cyperus article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |