MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF TROPICAL SPECIES OF THE GENUS CYPERUS L.

Abstract

Despite the wide spreading of Cyperuses in culture, the biology of most of them is
poorly studied. The aim of the research is to study the morphological features of 10 species of
the genus Cyperus L. which grow in the greenhouse of the Stavropol Botanical Garden. The
greenhouse is heated from October to April. The highest average daily air temperatures of
more than +30 °C are observed from May to August. The lowest temperatures are in October
and November (+10-18 °C). The studies were carried out according to generally accepted
methods. The most thoroughly studied aspects were height and width of the stems, the
intensity of the formation of new shoots, the duration of the growing season, and
reproduction. The prospects were evaluated in the conditions of the greenhouse in the
botanical garden. Since 2015, experimental observations has been made of the following
species of the genus Cyperus: Cyperus alternifolius L., C. isocladus Kunth., C. eragrostis L.,
C. baronin C. B. Clarke., C. papyrus L., C. flavescens L., C. textilis Thunb., C. notulatus, C.
longus L., C. serotinus Rottb. 80% of them are perennial and 20% are annual herbaceous
plants. During this time, an uninterrupted growing season was observed in 7 species, and in 3
species the dormant period occurred from the third ten-day period of November and lasted
until the third ten-day period of February. The paniculation stage is noticed from the third tenday period of April to the first ten-day period of June, the seed shedding was from the third
ten-day period of August to the third ten-day period of September. In 62% of Cyperus
species, morphological indicators reached the average natural size, which indicates internal
stability and good growing conditions, and in 38% indicators were lower. According to the
results of observations, the studied natural species – Cyperus alternifolius, C. isocladus
Kunth, C. eragrostis, C. baronin, C. papyrus, C. textilis, C. notulatus remain decorative
throughout the year, which allows them to be used in landscaping indoor ponds and indoor
spaces.