CYPE'RITS, a genus of plants of the natural order cyperoceer, distinguished by her maphrodite flowers and compound spikelets of numerous two-rowed glumes, including no bristles or scales It contains a great number of species, chiefly tropical, and gradually decreasing in number colder parts Of the globe. Only two are fOund in England, and these are very rare. Many of the species have tubers or corms, which in some are mucilaginous and nutritious; in others, contain also a bitter principle, and possess medicinal qualities. Of the latter class is C. longus, or sweet C., one of the species which have been found in England, common in ditches and wet meadows in some parts of Europe, the rhizome of which has an odor of violets, and is astrin gent, tonic, and stomachic. It has been employed in medicine from very ancient times; but is now more used in perfumery. Some of the Indian species are also used medici nally and in perfumery in their native country, as well as species of kindred genera. Of those with esculent tubers, the most important is C. eseulentus, sometimes called rush nut, a native of the s. of Europe and n. of Africa, which is cultivated to a considerable extent in Egypt, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the s. of France. The root of this plant
throws out creeping branches, at the end of which form farinaceous tubers of the size of a hazel-nut, which are called earth almonds (amande de terre) by the French. They have a sweetish taste, and are used like almonds for the dessert, and also for making orgeat (q.v.). They arc said to possess not only nutritive, but restorative and stimulant properties. Of late, they have become a considerable article of commerce, upon account of the bland fixed oil which they yield, and are chiefly exported from Spain and Portu gal to Holland. They contain about 10 per cent of oil. The roots of this plant and its allies are the only roots known to contain much oil. The tubers of a but/ions or jemenicus are eaten iu India, either roasted or boiled, or are dried in the sun and made into bread ; but their small size makes them troublesome of collection and preparation. Those of a germinates are also eaten. The tubers of some species of scirpus (q.v.) resemble in quality those of the esculent species of cyperus. The fiber of C. tea:tills is so strong that it is employed in India for making mats.