Cyperus esculentus
Chufa flatsedge
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Cyperus esculentus (Chufa flatsedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by NONE — geographically isolated from all other species.
Chufa flatsedge is a California native perennial herb found in various habitats across the state. Flowering throughout the summer, this plant produces yellow to dark brown flowers in inflorescences with 4 to 10 rays extending 20 to 110 millimeters long. Growing 20 to 80 centimeters tall with distinctive underground stolons that develop small tubers less than 11 millimeters wide, it spreads easily through these underground runners. Its flower bracts are small, measuring 1.8 to 2.7 millimeters long, with subtle color variations ranging from yellow to dark brown with medial green or reddish tones. The tiny fruits are elliptic and rarely mature to full development.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: NONE — geographically isolated from all other species
Habitat and range
California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Butte, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Kern, Mariposa, Merced, Riverside, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Ventura, Stanislaus, Inyo, El Dorado, Santa Clara, Monterey, Alameda, Amador, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Marin, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Placer, Kings, Yuba, Tehama, Shasta, Contra Costa
How to tell it apart
vs Carex: Cyperus has umbrella clusters with flat spikes; Carex has brown/green spikelets with seeds in individual flasks.; vs Scirpus: Cyperus has flattened ribbon-like spikes; Scirpus has rounded, cylindrical spikelets.; vs Juncus: Cyperus has triangular stems and flat flower spikes; Juncus has round stems and individual flowers.; vs Sticherus: Cyperus is a sedge with triangular stem; Sticherus is a fern with fronds.; vs Eleusine: Cyperus has triangular stems; Eleusine is a grass with round stems and obvious grass flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cyperus esculentus native to California?
Yes. Cyperus esculentus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Cyperus esculentus grow?
Cyperus esculentus occurs in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Butte, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt and other counties.
What plant family does Cyperus esculentus belong to?
Cyperus esculentus is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Cyperus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.