CYPERUS, in botany: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the triandria class of plants;
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and in the natural method ranking under the 3d order, Calamaris. The glumes are paleaceous, and imbricated towards each side; the corolla is wanting, and there is one naked seed. There are 20 species; the only remarkable are the round and the long sweet cyperus. The former is a native of the East Indies, and grows by the sides of rivulets, ditches, and the like. The root is knotty, wrapped round with fibrous strings not easy to break, of a brown colour without and grey within; of a pleasant scent, especially when fresh and well dried; the leaves are green, and resemble those of the reed and leek. The latter, commonly called English or Flemish cyperus, grows in the water, and along banks and river sides. Its root is as thick as an olive, full of little knots or specks, of an oblong figure, grey colour, sweet and somewhat sharp taste, and almost without smell when it is newly taken out of the ground. The roots of both plants are esteemed cordial, diuretic, and cephalic, resisters of poisons, and expellers of wind. Long cyperus is much used by perfumers and glovers.