Cyperus rotundus - Nut Grass

❏ Binomial Name : Cyperus rotundus L.

❏ Synonym : Chlorocyperus rotundus,Cyperus bifax,Schoenus tuberosus 

❏ Family : Cyperaceae

❏ Common Name : Nut Grass 

❏ Tamil Name : Korai

❏ Hindi Name : Bara-nagar-motha

❏ IUCN status:  Least Concern

Cyperus rotundus Botanical Description

Erect non tufted, rhizomatous perennials, 25-40 cm tall; rhizome long, producing ovoid tubers; stem triquetrous, smooth, base tuberous. Leaves several, basal, shorter than the stem, 3-6 mm wide, linear, gradually acuminate, dark green above, paler beneath; sheaths brown, 1-5 cm long. Inflorescence compound, 4-10 cm across, rays spicate; bracts 3-4, spreading, lowest exceeding the inflorescence, others as long as or shorter than the inflorescence. Spikelets 2-3 cm x 2 mm, linear-acute, compressed, bright coloured; rachilla broadly winged, wings hyaline, persistent; glumes distichous, 3.5-4 x 2 mm, ovate-acute, 5-7 nerved, keel green, reddish, margins hyaline, 1-2 basal glumes empty, smaller. Stamens 3, anthers 2 mm, connective shortly produced smooth, red. Style 2 mm; stigmas 3, 2.5-3 mm. Nut brown, oblong, trigonous, apiculate, 1.1 x 0.6 mm, minutely puncticulate. Fl. &Fr.: October-December.

Cyperus rotundus Medicinal uses

❀ Nut grass paste is used topically to treat skin problems like eczema and scabies.

❀ Pink eye or conjunctivitis is an inflammatory condition of the eye that can be itchy and uncomfortable, leaving your eyes watery and red. Studies using extracts of nut grass have found that this remedy can help ease associated inflammation from this eye problem in human test subjects.

❀ Cyperus rotundus may also have potential in the battle against cancer. Research, although in early stages, is proving promising, with researchers finding that the rhizome extract displays anticancer activity against multiple cancer cell lines. What's more, it also protects non-cancerous normal cells.