in botany, a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the pentandria clas of plants. 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 cypres, 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, restituters of poisons, and expellers of wind. Long cypres is much used by perfumers and glovers.