Cyperus sphaerocephalus

{{Short description|Species of sedge}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Cyperus_sphaerocephalus_3.jpg

|image_alt =

|image_caption = Cyperus sphaerocephalus with flower, in eSwatini

|genus = Cyperus

|species = sphaerocephalus

|authority = Vahl

}}

Cyperus sphaerocephalus is a species of sedge that is native to parts of Africa.{{cite web|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:305971-1|title=Cyperus sphaerocephalus Vahl|access-date=22 January 2022|publisher=Kew Science – Plants of the World Online}} In South Africa, it is called the golden headed sedge.{{Cite journal |last=Xanthos |first=Martin |last2=Mayo |first2=Simon J. |last3=Larridon |first3=Isabel |date=2023-03-22 |title=Reassessment of morphological species delimitations in the Cyperus margaritaceus-niveus complex using morphometrics |url=https://plecevo.eu/article/97453/ |journal=Plant Ecology and Evolution |language=en |volume=156 |issue=1 |pages=112–127 |doi=10.5091/plecevo.97453 |issn=2032-3921|hdl=1854/LU-01HJN76KRDJSHT2E85Y6ZYSE3X |hdl-access=free }}

The species was first formally described by the botanist Martin Vahl in 1805. Unlike many sedges, C. sphaerocephalus is believed to be pollinated by insects, hence the more conspicuous and colourful flowers.{{Cite journal |last=Wragg |first=Peter D. |last2=Johnson |first2=Steven D. |date=17 May 2011 |title=Transition from wind pollination to insect pollination in sedges: experimental evidence and functional traits |url=https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03762.x |journal=New Phytologist |language=en |volume=191 |issue=4 |pages=1128–1140 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03762.x |issn=0028-646X|url-access=subscription }}