Cyperus eragrostis

General: Sedge Family (Cyperaceae). This perennial herb has long, solid triangular stems from 10 - 90 cm in height. The slender, grass-like leaves grow from the base of the stem, and about 2-6 involucral leaves exceed the inflorescence. The flowers are golden- brown colored, umbellate or capitate, with the rays extending out from a central point with clusters of spikelets on the ends. Flowers and fruits spread out in feathery spikes almost like the ends of an umbrella (thus the name umbrella sedge). The plant has scaly stolons terminating in nut-like tubers.

Nutgrass, tall nutgrass, umbrella sedge, chufa, Earth almond, nutgrass, zula nuts, edible galingale

Cyperus monandrus Roth:
Argentina (South America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Cyperus eragrostis Lam.:
Argentina (South America)
Australia (Oceania)
Bolivia (South America)
Brazil (South America)
Chile (South America)
Easter Island (Oceania)
New Zealand (Oceania)
Peru (South America)
Suriname (South America)
Uruguay (South America)
United States (North America)
South Africa (Africa & Madagascar)
Canada (North America)
Colombia (South America)
China (Asia)
Juan Fernandez Isl (Oceania)
Guyana (South America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

B.C.; Ala., Calif., La., Miss., N.J., Oreg., Pa., S.C., Tex., Wash.; South America; naturalized, Europe.

Canada

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. It occurs in many plant communities in most of cismontane California, north to Oregon, south to Mexico and temperate South America. A related species, yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) is a worldwide weed (Hickman 1993).

Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous. Culms trigonous to terete, (25–)40–60(–90) cm, glabrous. Leaves flat or V-shaped, (10–)25–50 cm × 5–8(–12) mm. Inflorescences: heads globose, (10–)20–40 mm diam.; rays (0–)3–10, 2.5–5(–12) cm; 2d order rays usually absent (when present, 0.5–1.5 cm); bracts 4–8, horizontal to ascending at 15–30°, flat (or V-shaped), 3–30(–50) cm × 1.5–8(–12) mm. Spikelets (20–)30–50(–70), oblong, compressed, 5–20 × 2.2–3 mm; floral scales (12–)20–30(–50), off-white to golden brown, basally 2-keeled, laterally ribless, ovate-deltate, 2–2.3 × 1–1.4 mm (declined 30–40º from rachilla). Flowers: stamen 1; anthers 1–1.2 mm; styles 1–1.2 mm; stigmas 0.5 mm. Achenes black or dark brown, stipitate, broadly ellipsoid, 1.2–1.4 × 0.5–0.6 mm, stipe to 0.1 mm, apex apiculate, beak 0.2–0.3 mm, surfaces puncticulate.

Cyperus vegetus Willdenow

Damp grasslands, roadsides ditches; 0–200m.

Adaptation: These sedges prefer mud flats that are underwater during the winter months. Nutsedges grow in vernal pools, streambanks, ditches, lawns, gardens, and disturbed places at elevations from 0 - 1000 m. Cyperus eragrostis is common in shallow water and on moist ground at elevations from 0 - 700 m.

General: Cyperus species may be planted from bare root stock, from seedlings from container stalk, or directly seeded into the soil. Seed collection is easy, efficient, cost-effective, and non-destructive. Bare rootstock or seedlings are preferred revegetation methods where there is moving water. No more than 1/4 of the plants in an area should be collected.

These plants establish extremely well from seed. Seed production is prolific and germination rates are high. In wetland areas, revegetation of Cyperus occurs naturally where there is water, wind, or animal dispersal, or from the seed bank. It is likely that Cyperus will re-vegetate naturally; seeding or planting in native plant communities is not a good idea because of its invasive nature. This plant grows in gardens that are irrigated, or where there is some natural moisture.

Establishment from Seed

Fruiting summer.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 3
Specimens with Barcodes: 3
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

These species are introduced in Switzerland.

CYER is readily available through native plant nurseries within its range. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government.” The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

Hydrology is the most important factor in determining wetland type, revegetation, success, and wetland function and value. Changes in water levels influence species composition, structure, and distribution of plant communities. Water management is absolutely critical during plant establishment, and remains crucial through the life of the wetland for proper community management.

Ethnobotanic: On the rootlets of the sedge are small tubers, the size of dried currants. These tubers make an excellent meal, either raw or steamed. They are hard and crisp when eaten raw. These tubers taste between fresh coconut and raisins. When reduced to meal and cooked as cereal, it is both nourishing and appetizing. They can be soaked in water, then pounded to release the milky juice, which can be mixed with alcohol or water and sugar to make delicious drinks. Peeled and roasted, the tubers can be ground to become a coffee substitute or a sweet flour. The base of the stem may be eaten raw. The Yokuts in California ate the grass-nut of Cyperus species and the seeds of the same (Powers 1877). Native Americans use golden nutsedge as both sewing and wrapping material in coiled baskets. Nutsedge leaves were made into seats.

Erosion Control: Nutsedge is especially good for stabilizing or restoring disturbed or degraded areas (including logged or burned areas) for erosion and slope control and for wildlife food and cover. Cyperus species may be less suitable for general garden use, as these plants are also invasive. Once established, these plants tend to out-compete, displace, or overrun others.

Wildlife: The seeds are important, commonly used foods of ducks and of certain marshbirds and shorebirds. Ducks, sandhill cranes, crow, other waterfowl, and small mammals such as the kangaroo rat eat the seeds. The tubers are eaten in the winter by ducks and geese.