''Cyperus textilis''
(flat sedge, basket grass, umbrella sedge, mat sedge) is a sedge in the family
Cyperaceae
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'' w ...
. It is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to southern parts of
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
where it grows near rivers and other water reservoirs.
''Cyperus textilis'' is used to make baskets, sleeping mats, rolled twine and other woven articles.
Description
''Cyperus textilis'' can grow to be 1 to 3 meters tall. It forms clumps like other ''
Cyperus
''Cyperus'' is a large genus of about 700 species of sedges, distributed throughout all continents in both tropical and temperate regions.
Description
They are annual or perennial plants, mostly aquatic and growing in still or slow-moving w ...
'' species and is similar to the commonly kept plant ''
C. alternifolius''.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15536479
textilis