Cyperus articulatus

Cyperus articulatus is an aromatic species of sedge known by the common names jointed flatsedge and priprioca. It has also been known as Guinea rush or adrue. It grows as a perennial herb. It grows in water or near it in rivers, streams, lakes, and swamps with a hyperhydrate (emergent aquatic) or possibly tenagophyte (submerged juvenile and terrestrial adult) growth pattern. It is widespread across tropical and subtropical regions in Africa, southern Asia, northern Australia, the southeastern United States, the West Indies, and Latin America. While it is closely related to highly invasive sedges such as purple nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus), priprioca is less prolific and competitive than its relative.

Description

A herb. It is an almost leafless sedge. It keeps growing from year to year and is erect. The stems are 1.2 m tall and pithy. The stems are about 1 cm thick. They are cylinder shaped and pale yellow. The flowering stalk has fine drooping branches. It has black tubers. They have a lavender smell.

Edible Uses

Rhizomes - peeled and eaten raw. Essential oils obtained from the roots are used as a flavouring in the food industry. We have no specific information for this species, but it is said that the inner base of the young stems of all species in this genus can be eaten raw, and make an excellent survival food in times of need.

Traditional Uses

The plant is burnt to make salt. The fresh rhizome is peeled and eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Piripiri has a long history in South American herbal medicine, particularly valued for its effects on the digestive system, commonly treating nausea, vomiting, stomach aches, and intestinal gas. The plant is anthelmintic, antibacterial, antiemetic, antifungal, carminative, contraceptive, digestive, febrifuge, and sedative. Research interest has grown around its potential for treating epilepsy and convulsions; studies from Africa suggest the plant can mediate brain chemical reactions involved in epilepsy and that the rhizome has anti-epileptic and anti-convulsant actions, as well as sedative properties. Fresh rhizomes are ground to extract the juice, which is used as a nerve tonic for stress and nervous and mental disorders including epilepsy. It is also used to treat and prevent digestive and gastrointestinal disorders, fevers and flu, to facilitate childbirth or induce abortion, as a contraceptive, and for throat cancer. Externally it is applied to heal wounds and treat snakebite, and placed on the head as a hair tonic and to treat or prevent baldness. A leaf infusion treats headaches, colds and flu, mouth sores and ulcers, and hypertension. A decoction of the whole plant is used to relieve nausea and vomiting caused by malaria.

Known Hazards

Priprioca is related to other nut sedges (such as tigernut), and its roots release a light, woody, and spicy fragrance with floral notes. It is one of the traditional spices of the Amazon region, used medicinally in local tradition, and its reddish essential oil is used commercially both by the cosmetic industry, and increasingly as a flavoring for food. Like its relative papyrus, priprioca fibers and rhizomes are also used in crafts, since in addition to the exuberant perfume, the products are resistant to mold, indicating that the essential oil may have antifungal properties. Among its main components are mustakone, α-pinene, β-pinene, caryophyllene oxide, trans-pinocarveol, myrtenal, myrtenol, ledol, cyperotundone, and α-cyperone, though no single element dominates. According to local Amazonian medical tradition, priprioca may be harmful to pregnant women, adverse effects possibly including miscarriage.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in shallow water. It grows in damp soils along river banks. It is damaged by frost or drought. It can grow in slightly salty soils. It grows between 2-1,700 m above sea level. It grows in wet grass savannah. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central America, Chad, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ecuador, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, North America, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Grows naturally from the warm temperate zone through to the tropics. Probably requires a moist to wet soil. A tropical plant. It grows in shallow water. It grows in damp soils along river banks. It is damaged by frost or drought. Freshwater but it can grow in slightly salty soils. It grows between 2-1,700 m above sea level. It grows in wet grass savannah. It can grow in arid places.

Propagation

Seed or division.

Other Uses

The tall green stems are fibrous, round, hollow, and up to 18mm wide at the base; they have been used like reeds in basket-making and woven into mats. The fragrant, sweet-scented tuberous roots are used for perfuming clothing. The plant helps prevent erosion when growing along stream banks. Cattle will pasture on the plant when other forage is unavailable.

Notes

There are 550 Cyperus species. It has many uses in perfume and medicine.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Aldrue, Bitono, Bum-ane, Culeme, Entede, Kauju, Kolime, M'pofa, Mampufam Contumo, Mdulu, Mlulu, Modjote, Mussumarre, N'Buam, N'popa, N'ted, N'ten-tede, N'tende, Ndrauru, Nkulu, Tindzau, Tsimitamita, Umbuan, Umpopa, Untende, Ussoe

References (16)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 157
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 315
• Brazil: Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition. http://www.b4fn.org/countries/brazil/
• Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 189
• Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org

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