Family: Cyperaceae

Origin, Description & Uses:
Cyperus fulvus, commonly known as sticky sedge, is a grass-like plant native to New Guinea and parts of Australia including New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. It grows in clumps with upright, slender stems and narrow, sticky leaves that can trap small particles, giving the plant its common name. Its flowers are small and inconspicuous, forming umbrella-like clusters at the top of the stems. While not widely used for ornamental or practical purposes, in its native range it has occasionally been used for weaving mats or crafting with its fibrous stems.

Risks, Threats & Management:
This species is naturalized on Lanaʻi and exhibits traits that are cause for concern. Sticky sedge can spread aggressively in wetland and riparian areas, outcompeting native plants and altering habitats that native birds, insects, and other wildlife depend on. Its dense growth can also impede water flow and contribute to erosion in sensitive areas. Because of these impacts, management focuses on early detection and removal where feasible. Choosing low-risk or native alternatives is strongly recommended to help protect Hawaii’s unique tropical island ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability and latitudinal range
  
• Grows in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Lanai (Hawaiian Islands)
  
• Potential agricultural and environmental weed
  
• Other Cyperus species are invasive
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rhizomes
  
• Seeds dispersed as a contaminant in wool, by water, and possibly by other means
  
• Able to resprout after fire
  
• Gaps in biological and ecological information reduce accuracy of risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Palatable to grazing animals
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control