Yellow nutsedge is an aggressive perennial superficially resembling a grass. Plants range from 6 to 30 inches tall, with 3-ranked leaves, and 3-angled (triangular in cross section) pithy stems. True leaves originate from the base of each stem, while long leaf-like bracts radiate out from a common point just below the umbrella-like flower cluster; otherwise, stems are naked. Leaves and stems have a waxy or shiny appearance. Spikelets are yellowish-brown, and are borne on the ends of several to many slender branches of unequal length. Yellow nutsedge can spread by seed, creeping rootstocks, or by small underground nutlets. The many hard brown nutlets (1/2 to 3/4 inch long) may lay dormant in the soil for several years before producing new plants.
Yellow nutsedge was probably introduced from the Old World, and has now invaded cultivated agricultural lands throughout North America. It prefers moist soils, becoming most troublesome in potatoes, beans, corn, gardens and ornamentals. Cyperus is a genus of some 600 species, but yellow and purple nutsedge are the primary weedy sedges in our region.
Non-standard names: nutgrass, yellow nutgrass |
|
