Botany
The plant is a clustering perennial growing to a height of 1.5 meters. Stems are cylindric, ribbed, smooth and green. Leaves are linear, radiating from the terminal point of stem, spreading or slightly drooping, up to 20 cm long. Flowers are small, green and clustered.

Distribution
Widely distributed in the Philippines, in canals, ponds, and riversides.
Occasionally planted as an ornamental.

Parts utilized
Leaves, roots.

Uses
Folkloric
• No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.

Studies
• Antifungal / Antioxidant / Antibacterial: Study of root and leaf extracts of Cyperus alternifolius showed moderate activity against all yeast tested, while the root extract showed a clear antioxidant activity. It showed strong activity against both sensitive and resistant S aureus strains and against E faecalis.

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Plants from Northeast of Mexico / Ricardo Salazar-Aranda et al / eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nep127