Cyperus bulbosus Vahl APNI* 
Description: Slender rhizomatous perennial, with slender rhizomes forming ovoid, bulb-like, black- to dark brown-coated tubers 6–12 mm diam.
Culms slender, triquetrous, to 40 cm high, to 1.5 mm diam.
Leaves not septate-nodulose, about as long as culms, 1–2 mm wide. Inflorescence simple or occasionally subcompound with a few branches to 1.5 cm long; spikes to 5 cm long and diam.; involucral bracts distant from one another by up to 3 mm, leaf-like, the lowest 2 or 3 exceeding inflorescence. Spikelets flattened, occasionally twisted for part of length, 10–30 per spike, 10–25 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide in side view, 5–20-flowered; rachilla broadly winged, persistent. Glumes subacute, with sides 4- or 5-nerved, 3–5 mm long, orange-brown to red-brown. Stamens 3. Style 3-fid.
Nut trigonous, obovoid to ellipsoid, about two-fifths as long as glume, 1.3–1.5 mm long, 0.5–0.8 mm diam., dark greyish.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows near claypans; NW corner of State only.
NSW subdivisions: NWP, NFWP
Other Australian states: Qld W.A. S.A. N.T.
The tubers are edible.
Text by K. L. Wilson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
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