Flora of Israel: Cyperus conglomeratus

Cyperus conglomeratus, Cyperus macrorrhizus,
גומא מגובב

Scientific name:   Cyperus conglomeratus Rottb.
Synonym name:   Cyperus macrorrhizusNees
Hebrew name:   גומא מגובב
Plant Family:   Cyperaceae, גמאיים


Life form:   Hemicryptophyte
Stems:   4-30 cm; Stem 1-2.5 cm in diameter, trigonous, stiff, smooth base some times slightly swollen
Leaves:   Alternate, rosette, entire
Flowers:   Brown, green
Fruits / pods:   Achene oblong 3-4 mm long
Flowering Period:   February, March, April, May, June
Habitat:   Sand
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes
Chorotype:   Saharo-Arabian
Summer shedding:   Perennating


Derivation of the botanical name:

Cyperus, kyperos, kypeiros “galingale, sedge”; Latin cyperos, the name cyperis, idis was applied by Plinius to the root of the Cyperus.

conglomeratus, clustered together; conglomerate.
macrorrhizus, μακροϛ, long; tall, high, deep, far; with large roots or root stocks.
The Hebrew word: גומא, gômê or gomeh; in the Mishnah and Talmudic literature, gomeh is called “Gami” and sometimes also called “Papier”.

  • The standard author abbreviation Rottb. is used to indicate Christen Friis Rottbøll (1727 – 1797), a Danish botanist.
  • The standard author abbreviation Nees is used to indicate Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck (1776 – 1858), a prolific German botanist, physician, zoologist, and natural philosopher.