FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:
Identification of Cyperus to species requires examination of fruits and mature achenes (containing a single seed). Mature achenes in this species are black and lens-shaped.
Synonym(s): Cyperus nieuwlandii, Pycreus flavescens
Description: A medium height (0.5 m) weedy, grass-like sedge with triangular stems and long flattened spikelets.
Leaves: Narrow, basal, linear leaves.
Flowers/Fruit: Long, flattened spikelets. Inflorescences located at ends of stems, with flattened spikelets usually in pairs or groups. Achenes, which are rounded and lens-shaped and black at maturity in this species, are in a folded scale, unlike Carex.
Habit and Range: Sunny low fields, ditches, marshes, disturbed areas. Mainly in the Mountains and Piedmont.
COMMON CONFUSIONS:
Cyperus flavescens (yellow flatsedge) is similar to C. polystachyos (many-spike flatsedge) which only grows to 15 to 30 cm tall and mature achenes are flattened and elongated and not black as in C. flavescens. C. flavescens is also similar to the small C. compressus (poorland flatsedge) which has slightly narrower spikelets and flattened, rounded, lens-shaped achenes.
Click here to view Cyperus polystachyos.
Click here to view Cyperus compressus.
Link to side-by-side comparisons page
