''Cyperus sphaerocephalus'' is a species of

sedge The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family is large, with some 5,500 known species described in about 90 genera, the largest being the "true sedges" genus ''Carex'' wit ...

that is native to parts of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

. In South Africa, it is called the golden headed sedge. The species was first formally described by the botanist

Martin Vahl Martin Henrichsen Vahl (10 October 1749 – 24 December 1804) was a Danish-Norwegian botanist, herbalist and zoologist. Biography Martin Vahl was born in Bergen, Norway and attended Bergen Cathedral School. He studied botany at the University ...

in 1805. Unlike many sedges, ''C. sphaerocephalus'' is believed to be pollinated by insects, hence the more conspicuous and colourful flowers.

References

sphaerocephalus Taxa named by Martin Vahl Plants described in 1805 Flora of Somalia Flora of South Africa Flora of Angola Flora of Malawi Flora of Mozambique Flora of Swaziland Flora of Tanzania Flora of Zambia Flora of Zimbabwe {{Cyperus-stub

See also

References