C. flabelliformis Rottb., Descr. & Ic.: 42. 1773, nom. superfl. (with a reference to C. involucratus); Cyperus involucratus Rottb., Descr. Pl. rar. Progr.: 22 1772; Staff of Bailey Hortorium, Cornel University, Hortus Third: Cyperaceae, fig. A, 355. 1976. F.B. Rateeb & A.S. Sherif in Jafri & Gadi, Fl. Libya 120: fig. 6. 1985.

Distal parts of stem, bracts and branches of inflorescence scabrous; glumes are broadly elliptic; nut 0.6-0.8 x 0.5 mm, broadly ellipsoid.

Fl. Per.: February - April.

Type: "In Arabia detexit beatus P. Forskåhl", holotype, spec. not located; Rottböll, Descr. & Icon.: Tab. 12, Fig. 2. 1773, lectotype, selected by Kukkonen (Ann. Bot. Fenn. 27: 65, 1990).

Water edges; escape from gardens ("often cultivated as an ornamental", Stewart 1972); Distribution: Yemen, East Africa from Sudan to S. Africa, Madagascar; Iraq, Pakistan, India; cultivated in warm areas of Old and New World.