Yellow nutsedge

Cyperus esculentus

Yellow nutsedge is a perennial weed in the sedge family and superficially resembles grass.
Seedlings are infrequently found. When observed, seedling leaves are similar to that of the mature plant, but smaller with finer leaves. The stem base is slightly triangular and the midvein area is usually pale. The first two to three leaves emerge together, folded lengthwise.
The yellow nutsedge stem is erect and hairless. Although its leaves superficially resemble grass leaves, they lack collars, ligules, and auricles. The leaves of yellow nutsedge are thicker and stiffer than most grasses, are V-shaped in cross-section, and arranged in sets of three from the base rather than sets of two as in grasses. Yellow nutsedge flowering stems are triangular in cross-section; grass stems are hollow and round. Yellow nutsedge can be distinguished from a related species, purple nutsedge by its longer stems, which grow up to 3 feet (0.9 m) tall; purple nutsedge grows only to 1-1/3 feet (0.4 m) tall. Yellow nutsedge has light green leaves, a pointed tip, and a leaf width of 1/6 to 2/5 of an inch (4–9 mm); in contrast purple nutsedge has dark green leaves that are 1/8 to 4/17 of an inch (3–6 mm) wide, with rounded tips. Yellow and purple nutsedge can also be distinguished by their tubers. Tubers of yellow nutsedge are produced singly, while purple nutsedge tubers are produced in chains, with several on a single, horizontal, underground stem (rhizome). Another sedge, green kyllinga, Kyllinga brevifolia, has no underground tubers.

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