Native Plants

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Smith, R.W.

Cyperus esculentus

Cyperus esculentus L.

Yellow Nutsedge, Chufa Sedge, Yellow Nut-grass

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CYES

USDA Native Status: L48 (NI), HI (I), PR (I), VI (I), CAN (I)

This species includes botanical varieties that are North American natives. However, it also includes botanical varieties that are not native to North America, e.g. Cyperus esculentus var. leptostachyus, Yellow Nutsedge. Non-native taxa are not treated in this database.

Sedges are herbs of wet sites, often grass-like, with stems commonly 3-sided.

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous , Tuberous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Spike , Spikelet
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Brown or yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Perianth absent. Bloom time denotes fruiting period for Cyperus spp.

Distribution

USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV
Canada: ON

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Dun Skipper
(Euphyes vestris)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC	FACW	FACW	FACW	FACW	FACW	FACW	FACW	FACW	FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Patsy Glenn Refuge, c/o Wimberley Birding Society - Wimberley, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cyperus esculentus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cyperus esculentus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cyperus esculentus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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