Cyperus articulatus aka Chintul

Cyperus articulatus is a sedge in the Cyperaceae family. It is perennial, so it lives for more than one year. People call it adrue, piripiri, and jointed flatsedge. It is native to the tropics and subtropics. Its range spans the Americas, Africa, and southern Asia. It also reaches northeast Australia. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Useful Tropical Plants lists its status as Least Concern.

This grass-like plant has a thick, creeping rhizome, an underground stem. Its stout stems give it an upright shape. Garden sources give a height of about 6 feet [1.8 metres]. They list a spread of about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. Botanical sources report stems up to 8.2 feet [2.5 metres]. The green stems are round, hollow, and rich in fibre. The rhizome has a strong scent. PFAF says the plant grows fast and stays evergreen.

In the wild, it grows beside streams, rivers, and lakes. It also grows in marshes, swamps, and flooded ground. Most sites lie near sea level; some are much higher. It grows in still water or where currents flow slowly. Some sites shift between fresh and salty water. Grow it in sun with moist or wet soil. It can also grow in shallow water. PFAF lists sand, loam, and clay as suitable soils. It tolerates acid and neutral soils, plus those that are mildly alkaline. Frost and drought can harm it. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12 for growth outdoors.

This wetland plant suits water edges in warm climates. Along stream banks, it helps keep soil from washing away. People weave its stems into baskets, mats, and other crafts. They use its scented underground parts to perfume clothes. Cattle graze it when other feed is scarce. Growers raise it on a small scale for its rhizome. People also sell the plant in local markets. Sources list both seed and division as ways to grow more plants.

PFAF records its use to flavour food. It also says people eat the peeled rhizome raw. In herbal use, people take it for nausea and other gut complaints. Other reported uses aim to treat fever and calm nerves. These uses do not prove that treatment is safe. PFAF also lists uses to prevent or end pregnancy. Both plant-use sources report no known hazards. This does not prove it is safe for use as medicine. The supplied species accounts give no clear bloom season. They give no specific details on pests or disease.