Yellow Nutsedge

Yellow Nutsedge

Cyperus esculentus L.

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

▲ ▼ colonies of young plants

▲ stem bases showing triangular shape

▲ ▼ flowering plants

▲ uprooted flowering plant

▲ ▼ inflorescences

▲ ▼ rhizomes and tuber formation

▲ tuber

Yellow nutsedge:

not a grass, but a sedge; has a triangular stem; grows 6-30 inches 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