Prices:

	Each	20 or more
2.5L Pot	$9.50	$9.00

Details:

Type:	Grass
Growth Rate:	Fast
Mature Height:	1 m
Mature Width:	1 m
Site Condition:	Exposed, Frost Tolerant, Heavy Soil, Loamy Soil, Waterways
Sun:	Full Sun, Part Shade
Drainage:	Moist, Wet
Frosts:	Hardy
Features:	Attractive to insects. Rongoa. Flower colour: Green. Foliage colour: Green. Fruit colour: Brown. Native. Suitable restoration species.

Cyperus ustulatus, giant umbrella sedge, is a fast growing sharp-edged swamp grass with olive green leaves. Ideal for wetland re-vegetation. Quick to colonize damp areas which will eventually establish tall swamp forests. The arching dark green foliage is complemented with green flowers in summer which age to a showy brown.

History of use: Colenso 1869 reported that the Maoris stripped off outside edges of the leaves and use them for mats, baskets and for kite making. An upoko-tangata kite was featured on a set of matariki (Maori New Year) stamps issued by New Zealand Post in 2010. They also use the leaves as an outer thatch on their whares (dwellings). Medically the pith was boiled with water, strained and used in the North Auckland districts for kidney trouble (Adams 1945).

Habitat: Coastal to lowland sites in open ground. Tolerant of a wide range of habitats and conditions but evidently preferring wetland margins, seepages, streamsides, lagoon and estuary margins.

Flowering: Spring - Summer [July - December]
Fruiting:    Summer - Autumn [July - April]

My Lists: DrainField, Wetland