Flatsedge (3)
Flatsedges are so named because their spikelets, the cluster of florets, are flattened.
Yellow Nutsedge
Cyperus esculentus
Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA:
Chufa, Tiger Nut Sedge, Yellow Nutgrass
Photo taken on:
August 15, 2018
Location:
Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Moist, sandy soil
Grows 4" to 28" tall with a stout, sharply three-edged stem. Grass-like leaves are clustered at the base of the stem. Clusters of 10-20 spikelets are arranged in a loose cylinder at the top of the stem. Long, leaf-like bracts spread from the base of the flower head. The plant produces edible nut-like tubers.
Flora of North America reference.
Rusty Flatsedge
Cyperus odoratus
Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA:
Fragrant Flatsedge
Photo taken on:
September 19, 2023
Location:
Abiquiu Lake, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Emergent shorelines, disturbed, muddy places
Grows 4" to 20" tall with a stout, sharply three-edged stem. Grass-like leaves are clustered at the base of the stem. Clusters of 20-60 spikelets are arranged like a bottle brush at the top of the stem. Spikelets are 1/3" to 1" long. Long, leaf-like bracts spread from the base of the flower head. Spikelets are yellowish to reddish-brown. As its name implies, the roots have a floral fragrance when crushed.
It is distinguished from other flatsedges by the inflorescence branches that split apart between the spikelets, so that each spikelet takes a small section of the branch with it and there is no naked branch left on the plant.
Flora of North America reference.
Red-root Flatsedge
Cyperus erythrorhizos
Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA:
Redroot Nutgrass
Photo taken on:
September 19, 2023
Location:
Abiquiu Lake, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Emergent shorelines, disturbed, muddy places
Grows 4" to 40" tall with a stout, three-edged stem. Grass-like leaves with purplish bases are clustered at the base of the stem. Densely packed clusters of 40-80 spikelets are arranged like a bottle brush at the top of the stem. Spikelets are 1/8" to 1/3" long. Long, leaf-like bracts spread from the base of the flower head. As the common name implies, the roots are red rather than the usual white of other sedges.
Flora of North America reference.
Photo taken on:
September 19, 2023
Location:
Abiquiu Lake, NM
Rusty and Red-root Flatsedges growing together.