World Checklist of Cyperaceae: Sedges

Abstract

Cyperaceae (sedges) are the third largest family in the Monocotyledons and seventh largest family in the angiosperms. They are more-or-less cosmopolitan in distribution with hotspots of diversity in north-eastern South America, eastern and southern Africa, South and Southeast Asia and Australasia. Sedges have economic importance going back into antiquity, highlighted by the role of papyrus ('Cyperus papyrus') in early Egyptian society. Today their importance is wide-ranging, from the problems they present as weeds ('Cyperus rotundus' is known as the world's worst weed) to their considerable number of uses - providing materials for basketry, matting, construction (particularly thatch), perfumery, medicine and fuel, as well as food and animal fodder. The numbers of species of horticultural interest has increased, coinciding with a general interest in 'ornamental grasses'. Their importance has often been under-estimated, but there is no doubt that they playa significant, sometimes crucial role in many local economies, particularly in the tropics. Sedges are also important indicators of environmental damage, especially to aquatic habitats. They are particularly sensitive to the lowering of water tables and/or water pollution and there are observable declines in many species. Some genera are threatened by forest destruction and the prevalence of narrow endemic taxa within these genera may mean that some taxa are now extinct.