Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Cyperus rotundus in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 45.
today: The current name for this species is Cyperus rotundus L.
original Latin diagnosis
Cyperus culmo triquetro subnudo, umbella decomposita: spicis alternis linearibus.
English translation
Cyperus with the culm three-angled [and] nearly nude; with an umbel separated into pieces: with the spikes alternate [and] linear.
| Cyperus | Cyperus |
| with the culm | culmo - ablative singular of second declension masculine noun culmus, -i |
| four-angled | triquetro - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective triquetrus, -a, -um; modifies culmo |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| nearly naked; | subnudo - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective subnudus, -a, -um; modifies culmo |
| with an umbel | umbella - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun umbella, -ae |
| separated into pieces: | decomposita - ablative singular feminine of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb decompono, decomponere, decomposui, decompositum; modifies umbella |
| with the spikes | spicis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun spica, -ae |
| alternate | alternis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective alternus, -a, -um; modifies spicis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| linear. | linearibus - ablative plural feminine of group B adjective linearis, -is, -e; modifies spicis |