Abstract:
Cyperaceae is the one of the prime family of flowering plants having almost 5500 species in
more than 100 genera globally. Trigonous stem is the main distinguish character of this
family which differentiate sedges from grasses and rushes. Sedges have countless ecological
and economical importance as these are used to craft hats, mats, baskets, fibers, packing
material and brooms. Some sedges also provide nesting, food and shelter to numerous
animals, birds and insects. Family is also contributes in ethnobotany as a lot of species are
utilized for the treatment of plentiful disorders as a local remedies. Sedges have microscopic
flowers and complicated inflorescence which make them difficult to study taxonomically. In
this research work, Cyperus niveus and Fuirena pubescens were studied and morphological
observation by stereo and light microscope revealed that the inflorescence, glume shape and
color, nut and number of stamens and stigmas are good taxonomical characters. For
molecular study of these species, DNA was extracted from leaves by using CTAB method
and four marker region (ETS, ITS, matK and rbcL) were amplified and sequenced. Neighbor
Joining (NJ) method was exercised to draw trees for each marker region. The amplification of
ITS for Cyperus niveus was failed while the remaining markers were successfully amplified
and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of each region by NJ was illustrated the close
relationship of Cyperus niveus with Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus longus and Cyperus
esculentus. The study was concluded that the morphological and molecular identifications of
Cyperus niveus (Retz.) and Fuirena pubescens (Poir.) Kunth are confirmed and literature
gaps for these species are filled.
