Sedge Foodplants Growing in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa, and <i>Cyperus Esculentus</i> Tubers (<i>Patrysuintjies</i>) as a C<sub>4</sub> Superfood

Since it was established that the early hominins of Cradle Humankind in South Africa ate 13C-enriched foods may have included sedges with C4 photosynthetic pathways, much work has focused on reconstruction hominin dietary ecologies both southern and eastern Africa. Through years emphasis placed Cyperus papyrus as a possible source, even inspiring an ‘aquatic diet’ hypothesis for all hominins. Baboon feeding habits sedge regimes observed Africa’s ‘Lowveld’ provided proxy ecology ‘Highveld’ hominins, from sedges, amongst other plants, been collected nutritional studies. To date, however, there no attempt to compile inventory species currently growing demarcated area Humankind. Here I list 29 Cyperaceae taxa recorded show that, contrary previous inference, most them pathways do not need aquatic or permanent wetland settings. discuss provide photographic records six identified current baboon human foodplants, highlight esculentus nutritious prolific C4-sedge-USO food source African based its energy, protein fat/lipid profile.