Tropical fimbry (Fimbristylis cymosa, Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland.: 228 (1810))

Family: Cyperaceae

Author: R.Br.

Bibliography: Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland.: 228 (1810)

Year: 1810

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Fimbristylis

Vegetable: False

Observations: Tropics & Subtropics

Description

Tropical fimbry, known scientifically as Fimbristylis cymosa, is a versatile plant that thrives in both tropical and subtropical regions. First documented in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown in his work “Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland.”, this species belongs to the Cyperaceae family, a considerable group comprising various sedges.

Renowned for its adaptability, tropical fimbry can be found in a wide array of environmental settings, from moist coastal areas to more arid landscapes. This hardy plant contributes to the biodiversity of its habitats and plays a role in soil stabilization, thereby preventing erosion in coastal zones.

Its distinct appearance, characterized by slender, tufted stems and small, clustered spikelets, makes it an identifiable member of the grass-like Cyperaceae family. Often seen gracing the edges of water bodies and other damp environments, Fimbristylis cymosa is an integral component of the ecosystems it populates.

Whether you encounter tropical fimbry in the lush tropics or the warmer subtropics, its presence signifies a plant well-adapted to its surroundings, illustrating the remarkable breadth of flora within the Cyperaceae family.

Common Names

Msa: rusiga
Eng: tropical fimbry
En: Tropical fimbry
Ms: Rusiga
: Hurricanegrass

Synonyms

• Iria cymosa ((R.Br.) Kuntze)
• Fimbristylis cymosa var. typica (Domin)

Distribution

• Aldabra (native)
• Andaman Is. (native)
• Aruba (native)
• Bahamas (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Belize (native)
• Benin (native)
• Bismarck Archipelago (native)
• Borneo (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Caroline Is. (native)
• Cayman Is. (native)
• Chagos Archipelago (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Christmas I. (native)
• Cocos (Keeling) Is. (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Comoros (native)
• Congo (native)
• Cook Is. (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• Equatorial Guinea (native)
• Fiji (native)
• Florida (native)
• French Guiana (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Gilbert Is. (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Gulf States (native)
• Guyana (native)
• Hainan (native)
• Hawaii (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Howland-Baker Is. (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Japan (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Korea (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Laos (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Liberia (native)
• Line Is. (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Maldives (native)
• Maluku (native)
• Marianas (native)
• Marquesas (native)
• Marshall Is. (native)
• Mauritius (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Mozambique Channel I (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nauru (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands Antilles (native)
• New Caledonia (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Nicobar Is. (native)
• Niger (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Niue (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Phoenix Is. (native)
• Pitcairn Is. (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Réunion (native)
• Samoa (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Seychelles (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• Society Is. (native)
• Socotra (native)
• Solomon Is. (native)
• Somalia (native)
• South China Sea (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Suriname (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Texas (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Togo (native)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (native)
• Tonga (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Tuamotu (native)
• Tubuai Is. (native)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (native)
• Tuvalu (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Venezuelan Antilles (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Wake I. (native)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (native)
• Western Australia (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Apr 3, 2022 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 19, 2021 by Augustin Soulard (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 7, 2022 by Luis Elias Chahua Janampa (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 16, 2022 by Ash Welch (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Apr 3, 2022 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Apr 3, 2022 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 20, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 20, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 20, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 20, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Aug 16, 2022 by Ash Welch (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2709108)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:307835-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Fimbristylis cymosa R.Br.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Graminoid

Growth