Yellow Nutsedge

(Cyperus esculentus L.)

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

▲ colony of young plants

▲ stem bases showing triangular shape

▲▼ flowering plants

▲▼ flowers and rhizomes

Yellow nutsedge:  (pp. 284-285, Weeds of the Great Plains, pp. 26-27, Weeds of the Northeast)

·         not a grass, but a sedge; has a triangular stem; grows 6-30” tall

·         produces seeds, rhizomes and tubers

·         has yellow-green leaves and small, golden panicles

·         likes, low, wet, high organic matter soils, but adaptable to upland sites

·         tubers are more important than seed for spread

·         a yellow nutsedge moderate to heavy infestation can produce 1-10 million tubers/A/yr at end of short, thin underground stems

·         existing tubers begin growth in May, new tuber production begins in July

·         one plant can produce 1900 plantlets from thin, white rhizomes, 7000 tubers per/yr, spreading to about at 6' diameter

·         tubers don't take up systemic herbicides as well as rest of plant